July 18, 2016
By: Len Toenjes, President, AGC of Missouri
AGCMO Launches BuildMO
Welcome to the inaugural issue of BuildMO, our new weekly newsletter designed to inform and engage our members in the work of the Associated General Contractors of Missouri.
After all, ours is an organization built and driven by our members. And we heard you! BuildMO was created to cover timely industry topics; highlight programs, services and special offers; and invite your feedback. We hope you already are enjoying and participating in our enhanced conversations on social media and will visit our website often to access relevant and timely news updates and resources. Last month, 56 percent of visits to www.agcmo.org were first time visitors, so our newly enhanced Communications Plan already is having a significant impact.
The focus of our inaugural issue is Workforce Development. As many of you already have experienced, our industry is facing a critical shortage of skilled workers. According to the AGC of America’s Workforce Development Plan construction worker shortages pose a threat not just to firms looking to recruit new talent, but also have the potential to undermine broader economic growth.
Frankly, our industry is in the eye of a Perfect Storm. Shortages are the consequence of a series of policy, education, demographic and economic factors that have decimated the once robust education pipeline for training new construction workers. The situation has been exacerbated by the forced layoff of more than two million construction workers since 2006, retirement of a major portion of our workforce, and a lack of availability and participation in secondary-school career and technical education training
What is the AGC of Missouri doing to address this problem? Firstly, we have ramped up our training programs, strengthened our relationships with our industry partners, and made workforce development a top priority for 2016-17. Through outreach to community resources, secondary and post-secondary educational institutions, the public workforce systems, and pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, AGC is working to both attract new workers and retain those who have already chosen a construction career.
As contractors and leaders in our industry, we urge you to take advantage of our many training opportunities, industry speakers and our experienced staff. We are here to support your recruitment efforts, provide industry resources, and share best practices. Above all, we all need to become avid industry advocates – with our legislators, leaders, friends, family and neighbors. Finally, we must continue to be creative in looking for every new way to increase our outreach and promote the intrinsic value of careers in construction. The future of our industry and the economic well-being of our state depend on it.
Thank you for all you are doing to strengthen our industry. And, welcome aboard to BuildMO!
Len
#AGCMO