5 minute read
Building a future in construction
BY JENNIFER L. GRYBOWSKI | Contributing Writer
R.I. DEPARTMENT OF Labor and Training Director Scott Jensen says the decision by Gov. Gina M. Raimondo to allow the construction industry to remain open during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was crucial to the industry.
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“If you don’t close, you don’t have a hard time starting back up,” Jensen said.
It was also important to the overall economy in a state that saw its unemployment rate jump from 4.7% in March to 18.1% in April and 16.4% in May, according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even in August, the state’s 12.8% unemployment ranked second highest in the nation.
TEAMWORK: Robert Tolson, left, Lisa Silvio and Kyle Brown, right, line up beams to be bolted as part of the ironworking segment of Building Futures’ five-week pre-apprenticeship in 2019. Participants construct a 70-foot-by-14-foot project that contains many of the tools, materials and techniques used in building steel structures.
COURTESY BUILDING FUTURES
STAYING VIABLE
But staying viable will continue to require adjustments throughout the industry, though there’s been no shortage in demand in some sectors, including high-end housing.
“I am concerned, especially in the private market, about the impact [the pandemic] will have on office and retail space,” said Michael Sabitoni, business manager and secretary treasurer for the Rhode
Island Laborers’ District Council and president of the Rhode Island Building Trades Council. “There are concerns in hospitality, restaurants and hotels. I don’t see any of those projects coming back until after there is a vaccine, and after that it takes time. I think it’s going to be a little bit before you see the private economy come back.”
However, both Sabitoni and Jensen think that public-works projects will help fill those gaps in the meantime.
“We had terrible roads in Rhode Island, the schools were in rough shape, and that’s why government investments were made,” Jensen said. “And they have the added benefit that during a down economy it is pushing demand and giving people jobs in this tough time. It is a countercyclical investment, which is important.”
According to Marcantonio, there has also been an increase in demand for housing and remodeling. According to the National Association of Home Builders, single-family and multifamily starts each posted solid gains in July, with total housing production up 22.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.5 million units, according to a report from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development and Commerce Department.
“Most people who own homes are doing well enough to take on projects and the industry is opting to step up,” he said.
He added the pandemic initially created different challenges for those in the homebuilding and remodeling business. Those that were working on outdoor projects at homes, such as decks, were getting more requests for work than they could handle, but indoor projects practically ground to a halt. Continues on page 18
“Remodel took a hit for a while until the public became comfortable with masks and other safety procedures,” Marcantonio said. “We had to educate our members on their safety and the safety of their customers.” But the need for housing in the state won’t go away anytime soon. “We have a severe shortage of housing in Rhode Island … and interest rates are low right now, so homes are selling rather quickly,” he said.
YOUTH NEEDED
But a problem that has plagued the local industry for years – an aging workforce – has only worsened in the pandemic. Due to COVID-19, Jensen said, workers are retiring quicker, leaving even bigger gaps in the workforce. According to the DLT, the number of construction jobs is down overall by about 1,500 from 2019 because of the pandemic, though the industry added 400 new jobs between June and July in 2020. Industry leaders are scrambling to fill those gaps by offering training. ‘[Construction] is a Building Futures Executive Director Andrew Cortes says the outlook for seamless pathway all trades is strong, but particularly for electricians, construction iron workers for a student who is in and laborers. Jensen thinks all of the skilled a program of study. trades boast employment opportunities, including welders, heating, A national certification … ventilation and air conditioning, and oil-heat technology. guarantees them “Any skill that has an apprenticeship attached to it is a good one,” he apprentice opportunities.’ said. “You are going to have a lot of training available right now to help ANDREW CORTES, people get those skills. The construc-
Building Futures executive director tion industry is like any other industry and is undergoing a revolution with technology. What that means is you are going to need to apply training and skills to everyone.” Sabitoni said that even with all the difficulties and uncertainty in some sectors, there is still going to be a demand for the foreseeable future for those that want to learn a trade. “This is an industry that trains you,” he said. “It’s earn while you learn, and when you are done you have a transferrable skill set that can earn you middle-class living, with wages, benefits and a pension, and you don’t have a big debt hanging around your neck.” More and more workers are seeing those benefits. Marcantonio said
HELP WANTED
The fastest-growing construction jobs in Rhode Island all have a projected 2026 employment level of 500 or more and a growth rate of at least 10%.
EMPLOYMENT OPENINGS DUE TO
2016 2026 % CHANGE EXITS TRANSFERS GROWTH TOTAL
Plumbers, Pipefitters, & Steamfitters 2,006 2,443 21.8 807 1,488 437 2,732 Carpenters 4,956 5,982 20.7 1,880 3,040 1,026 5,946 Electricians 2,323 2,646 13.9 865 1,846 323 3,034 First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades & Extraction Workers 2,201 2,459 11.7 746 1,470 258 2,474 Construction Laborers 3,765 4,143 10 1,379 2,606 378 4,363 Heating, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration Mechanics & Installers 750 825 10 218 528 75 821
