Wanted: skilled workers on jobsites in Alabama

Alabama (USA) is recruiting qualified workforce in the construction field.

“When the construction sector goes well, all is well”, says a French proverb. Well, yes, except for Alabama apparently. Although construction employment recorded a 2.8% increase nationwide in 2016, according to a recent study published by the Associated General Contractors of America, Alabama is not currently in a position to take advantage of this slight recovery.

Alabama is faced with an ageing of its labor, 47 years old being the average age of workmen in the building industry. For every four people who leave the trade, only one replacement is ensured by apprenticeship programs in place. This shortage situation “could cause serious disruptions and even slow economic progress”, had already warned the Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce Greg Canfield in 2015. A nonsense when one knows that the construction sector is foreseeing a growth of 19% through 2018.

To remedy this problem, the Alabama Recruitment Institute put in place the GoBuildAlabama.com initiative. Its purpose is to make sure young people are aware of the training programs available to them, clarify preconceived ideas, restore the image of the trade and, eventually, nurture vocations.