Whether residential, commercial, or industrial, personnel in construction are in great demand. Almost everybody you talk with is looking for people with construction skills. Today, however, it’s not just hammers and nails needed.

McKinsey & Co.’s report “Imagining Construction’s Digital Future,” suggested five opportunities for the construction industry. McKinsey reports the “shortage of skilled labor and supervisory staff will only get worse. These are deep issues that require new ways of thinking and working.”

It’s clear there is no scarcity of skilled jobs in the construction industry, and the need is only expected to grow. However, there is a scarcity of advanced skilled workers to fill those jobs. To fill these jobs, the industry needs to attract millennial workers. This generation lives on their iPhones, grew up with gaming consoles, are conversant in virtual reality headsets, and tinker with 3D printing. In addition to hammers and nails, these are the new tools of construction.

Andy Leek is the Virtual Design and Construction Director at St. Louis, Missouri-based PARIC, an innovative general contractor, construction management and design-build firm. Five years ago, the company brought Leek to the team to digitize the construction process in the cloud. Leek knows who the industry needs. 

“For many students, this is the first time they are seeing commercial applications of drones, laser scanners, and robotics used on a job site and they are surprised by the heavy use of technology in the construction world,” Leek said. “This new generation of workers are already heavy consumers of technology, and most of them are already comfortable with the same smartphones and tablets we use to manage work on our projects.”

The construction industry is changing quickly, and that’s a good thing. If we are to build more with less and deliver better outcomes, the future of construction must be digital. You can count on the world’s next wave of construction jobs and construction projects being high-tech and cloud-connected, according to the McKinsey report. 

The Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Institute, a partnership between Louisiana Economic Development, Louisiana Community & Technical College System and the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors offers seminars and courses to small and emerging construction businesses that assist in building a solid foundation of knowledge within the construction industry. The Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Institute (LCAI) General Contractors Seminar provides foundational technical knowledge that is essential to a general contractor in order to sustain a business within the construction industry.
 Virtual ten-week course, with two-hour sessions twice a week
 Taught by industry leaders
 Offered via interactive distance learning to multiple locations throughout the State

 All information and materials disseminated during the LCAI General Contractors Seminar will be focused on commercial construction. The 2023 registration ends this week so if interested go to the Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Institute’s website for details. People with an aptitude for construction skills can start their own business or find employment and careers with established companies. For assistance in starting a business, in any category, The SEED Center has valuable information and resources available. 

Just as in every field of employment, the construction industry is changing and being impacted by technology. Education is the key. SOWELA Technical Community College and McNeese State University have programs to help us move into the future.

Let’s seize the moment.