U.S. Construction Unemployment Rate Lowest May Level in Five Years
 Construction employment increased by 7,000 in May in the U.S., helping to push the industry's unemployment rate down to the lowest May level in five years, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. The relatively positive jobs report underscores the need to address potential shortages of skilled workers. Formerly unemployed construction workers are finding jobs in other sectors, retiring or going back to school. These conditions may lead abruptly to worker shortages in parts of the industry, such as welders and pipefitters.
Association officials said there was still time to avoid some of the future worker shortages that will come if the industry continues to add jobs over the coming months. They urged education officials to rebuild skills-based, or vocational, educational programs designed to help prepare students for careers in construction and manufacturing. Continue reading story
Addressing this need, the Code Council has implemented a new program for High School Students participating in Technical Training to receive an introduction to the model building codes, including code interpretation, application and administration. Architects, building systems engineers, building contractors, construction trades workers, manufacturer's of building products and code administrators (code official, plans examiners and inspectors) all use the Code Council's model codes to provide their services and products. Technical High Schools historically have offered curricula related to many of these vocations, but often, the model codes have not been sufficiently emphasized. ICC has embarked on this program to partner with Technical High Schools by providing a course of study focused on the International Residential Code. This course may be integrated into existing curricula or introduced as a new class. |
