By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – A study by the University of Illinois found that about 15 percent of those working in the construction trades in Illinois are minorities or women. Construction industry leaders say that’s a problem.
There are a couple problems facing the industry, according to the study. Not enough young people are choosing to enter the skilled trades for careers, choosing college path careers instead. And the workforce is aging – the average construction worker in the state is approaching age 50.
Apprenticeship programs, which for decades have funneled candidates through training programs set up by contractors and labor unions, aren’t attracting minority candidates.
“We have a huge labor shortage up here in the construction trades, and not enough minorities are involved in the trades,” Tom Cuculich, Chicagoland Associated General Contractors’ executive director, told The Center Square. “They really are the key to the solution.”
Despite efforts, “the problem still persists. We do not attract enough minorities to the commercial construction industry,” he said.
That’s led to a couple of new programs – first, the state’s new Illinois Works program, which set aside $25 million in the state capital budget to create new job training programs for skilled trades. Then there’s programs like Chicagoland AGC’s Hire360 program. This is a cooperative effort between private companies, labor unions and community development agency United Way to reach out into the community and pull more people into the field. A special effort is being placed on recruiting and supporting women and minorities – two segments of the population that have been traditionally underemployed and under-represented in the skilled trades.
Cuculich said this program also has another new approach – acknowledging that many people who enter skilled trades learn they don’t like the work. In that case, the program has options for these people.
“If they decide the trades are not for them, there are other partners that will be able to provide job opportunities,” he said.
Cuculich said he’s hoping most of the people in programs like Illinois Works and Hire360 decide to stay in the construction field.
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