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National Skills Summit
Innovative Initiatives: Construction and
Transportation
Chapter 5: Introduction
Construction and
Transportation
Over the past seven years, employment in the construction industry has increased by nearly 50 percent. It is now an industry with 6.7 million jobs. While some regions of the country are experiencing some moderation, according to the Federal Reserve, construction activity and demand for residential and nonresidential real estate remain high. Employment in construction is expected to remain strong.
Similarly, the transportation sector is expected to seek additional workers. Employment in the transportation industry rose by more than 25 percent over the past seven years to over 4.5 million jobs. More than 150,000 new jobs have been added since early 1999.
Participants at the National Skills Summit discussed ways to attract skilled workers to the construction and transportation industries and agreed that time and energy must be devoted to ending the existing stereotype that these are industries for people without a college education. With technology now prominent in every segment of the economy, many companies seek to hire people who have earned an associate's degree.
Apprenticeships often allow participants to earn college credit while they are working. And in some cases tuition reimbursement is available.
Each of the following practices reflects the commitment to education and the desire to introduce workers from nontraditional sources to long-term careers in these industries.
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