Conference aimed at bringing younger professionals into construction industry

With younger generations no longer signing up for careers in construction like they once did, the effects are being felt across the workforce. In an effort to help engage younger professionals and educate them about the opportunities in the construction field, the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) announced it is holding a conference geared towards this audience. The 2019 Construction Career Pathways Conference, which is being held in Anaheim, California, Dec. 4, will establish how industry working with education is a crucial way to tackle this skilled worker shortage.

With 27 years being the average age of a construction apprentice in the U.S., partnering with education is a must to begin more effectively recruiting younger generations.

This year's Construction Career Pathways Conference will cover an extensive range of topics, including programs for every stage of learning, recruitment strategies, becoming an industry of choice, recognizing that hindsight is 20/20 and more. Attendees will gain insight from educators and industry professionals, hear from young craft professionals on why they chose construction and create an actionable outreach plan for 2020. Networking and team activities will take place throughout the day between presentations.

According to NCCER, this event will take place from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Anaheim Convention Center prior to the Association for Career and Technical Education's (ACTE) CareerTech Vision 2019 conference. The cost to register is $100, which covers breakfast, lunch and a reception following the conference, along with resources to make collaboration more efficient. To register, interested parties can visit pathways.nccer.org/2019-details.