KEY POINTS
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A lack of job-ready construction labor slows projects and raises costs nationwide.
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Associated Builders and Contractors is meeting the moment with proven curricula, apprenticeships, and innovative training models.
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Local chapters, employer partners, and national policy shifts are vital to building tomorrow’s workforce.
The Urgency of Skills
Walk onto almost any nonresidential jobsite today, and you’ll likely hear the same concern. Too many applicants show up without the basic skills needed to build safely and efficiently.
“From practical math to decision-making and problem-solving, the most basic skills needed every day on a jobsite are all but unknown to the next generation of construction workers because they are not emphasized in the classroom,” said Greg Sizemore, Associated Builders and Contractors’ vice president of health, safety, environment, and workforce development.
According to Sizemore, the skills gap leaves contractors with a smaller hiring pool, limiting which construction projects they can pursue and, in some cases, whether a job can be built at all.
“The solution will require a shift of this paradigm that places a higher priority on preparing individuals for skilled careers and not just college readiness.”
The construction industry is facing a worker shortage of nearly 440,000 this year alone, Sizemore added. Without new strategies, those numbers will only climb.
ABC says it is tackling the gap on multiple fronts, from competency-based learning and registered apprenticeships to just-in-time training and policy advocacy.
Training That Works
ABC has long been known for its “earn while you learn” approach. What began as the Wheels of Learning program has grown into today’s NCCER curriculum: a nationally recognized, modular training system that delivers industry-approved credentials transferable from site to site.
“It is a true earn-as-you-learn model,” Sizemore said. “Contractors can tailor it to their marketplace strategy while workers build credentials and career momentum.”
Apprenticeships Launching Careers
Registered apprenticeships remain the backbone of construction workforce development. These programs let workers gain classroom instruction and on-the-job training simultaneously, while earning a paycheck.
“Apprenticeships in the construction industry are a time-honored, traditional workforce development tool, a proven earn-while-you-learn model that allows participants to build skills, gain experience, and often graduate debt-free,” Sizemore said.
Greg Sizemore, Vice President of Health, Safety, Environment, and Workforce Development, Associated Builders and Contractors. Image: ABC
“People who complete an apprenticeship can be as much as $200,000 ahead of their college-educated peers early in their careers,” Sizemore noted. “That’s the power of learning while you earn.”
Innovation at Work
Today’s jobsite demands flexibility. ABC chapters and member firms are turning to just-in-time task training, work-based learning, and competency-based progression to meet fast-changing project needs.
According to Sizemore, specialty contractors are leading the way. They are creating micro-credentials in carpentry, scaffolding, insulation, and other trades that match warranty and safety requirements. “These programs are designed to deliver the right education at the right time for the right person,” Sizemore said.
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Behind the training are ABC’s 67 chapters and 23,000-plus members, who bring opportunities directly into communities. Local chapters partner with schools, veteran organizations, community colleges, and employers to connect individuals with entry points into construction careers.
“Employers play a critical role in both program design and individual success,” Sizemore said. “ABC’s end game is to put the best talent on the construction field for our members and the industry.”
Policy and Pathways Forward
Even the strongest training programs need supportive policy. ABC is pushing for expanded career education funding, tax-advantaged savings plans for trade training, and new visa pathways to help contractors meet immediate labor needs while long-term pipelines grow.
“Expanding career education funding alone isn’t enough,” Sizemore said. “We need a new market-based merit visa system for the construction industry.”
Building Futures Together
The path forward is clear for contractors, educators, and policymakers. A construction industry in alignment with workforce development programs that value skills and close the gap.
“The mission is to close the skills gap by investing in training, education, and workforce pathways,” Sizemore said. “That’s how we ensure a strong construction industry and a stronger America.”
Find out more about ABC and local chapters on their website.
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national trade association in the construction industry. Founded in 1950 on the principles of free enterprise and open competition, ABC provides education, training, safety programs, and advocacy to strengthen the construction sector.
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