430,000 Workers Needed

A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

HELP WANTED: 430,000 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS

By: David Helveston, President/CEO

In July, ABC Pelican hosted a well-attended summer open house at our Baton Rouge Training Center for current and prospective members. The lure of beer at 3:30 p.m. on a workday and the opportunity to network probably drove much of the attendance, but there were also many members present who expressed a genuine interest in learning what our team does “down the hill” in our three back training buildings. One member sheepishly admitted to me that despite his steady involvement with ABC Pelican over the years, he had never made it past our Administrative parking lot.

Our education team proudly showed off our labs and equipment, discussed the quality instruction that takes place every day and night, and explained the impact that ABC’s training center has on so many students’ lives. ABC Pelican is working to supply the next generation of craft professionals with the tools that they need to succeed and excel in the construction industry. Louisiana’s economic engine is fueled by a workforce equipped with durable and transferable skill sets, and ABC Pelican is providing the right tools to the construction workforce to cultivate longlasting and rewarding career opportunities.

Now more than ever, ABC’s education efforts are critical. Construction companies need to hire 430,000 more workers in 2021 than they employed in 2020, according to an ABC National analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. That jaw-dropping number could potentially grow to 1 million or more over the next two years to meet demand.

In Louisiana, ABC Pelican will educate and upskill more than 2,000 new construction craft professionals by the end of this year. Through training centers in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles, we educate students in crafts such as welding, electrical, millwright, pipefitting, heavy equipment operation, instrumentation and more. Men and women of all ages come to ABC Pelican to learn a new craft or perfect their current one. ABC Pelican also has partnerships with local high schools that allow current students to begin craft training while in school. For 14 years, ABC Pelican has partnered with our member contractors, industry professionals, suppliers, and other educational entities to host Build Your Future Day for current high school students across Louisiana so they can learn about the career opportunities available in the construction industry. This October, we anticipate that more than 1,000 students from over 60 high schools across the state will learn about different construction career opportunities through hands-on demonstrations and conversations with industry leaders.

We need your help to make Build Your Future Day a success and provide a meaningful experience for these high school students. With the increasing need for more workers in the construction industry, I hope you and your business can participate in our Build Your Future Day to shed a positive light and realistic image of the construction industry. Please reach out to me or anyone on our education team to see how you can get involved at Build Your Future Day or any time at one of our training centers.

While ABC events are always a good time, I hope your involvement with ABC consists of more than simply grabbing a few beers at one of our great networking functions. I encourage you to learn how your company can benefit from engaging with our training centers, and how you can play a role in developing the next generation of craft professionals. Merit Shop Message | Summer 2021