Page 32 - Skills 2022

Industry Outlook: Construction
INFRASTRUCTURE IS
BACK! NOW WE JUST
NEED WORKERS
TBY AMY ROACH
A LACK OF TALENT ACROSS THE BOARD
That we were facing a shortage of construction workers even before the passing of the new bill and the renewed interest in renewable energy projects is no secret. With COVID-related impacts to the workforce as well as the aging out of many skilled construction laborers, the industry has been struggling to fill jobs. And between 2016 and 2026, employment in the Hudson Valley Region’s construction sector is projected to grow by 21.5%, according to the New York State Department of Labor.
“The construction industry, in general, is facing a lack of talent across the board — from field labor to superintendents, project managers and everything in between. We’ve seen this shortage for years,” notes JD Summa, president and CEO of Tarrytown-based Kings Capital Construction Group, a heavy construction firm that was recently named one of the best places to work in Westchester by 914INC. “As a result, the price has gone up tremendously as far as what it takes to entice skilled labor right now.”
This is good news for workers, despite being a challenge for companies like Kings Capital Construction Group. “There are so many great opportunities in construction right now that are often overlooked,” Summa notes. “Whether you want to attend college or not, you can find a place in the construction world. The industry has become so much more inclusive — this should be one of the sectors that everybody takes a look at before they make a decision about where they want to end up for their careers.”
he passing of the bipartisan infrastructure bill at the end of 2021 was like a meteor hitting the Earth — but in a good way — for the local construction industry, says George Drapeau, who heads up public affairs for the Construction Industry Council (CIC), a
Newburgh-based industry trade group.
The bill provides $13 billion in funding for New York State infrastructure projects, including repairs and new construction of highways, roads, bridges, tunnels, and more. Its passing, Drapeau says, “signals that there is a commitment to the construction industry again, and a recommitment to infrastructure renewal.”
All of these projects signal the need for a skilled and dependable local labor force, which is good news for job seekers here in our region. “Local labor unions and industrial development agencies are realizing they need to jumpstart training and apprenticeship programs to ensure that we have the right talent for these new projects,” Drapeau explains. Especially in demand, he says, will be “people who can drive trucks, operate excavators and other heavy construction equipment, pour concrete, lay foundations, work with rebar and structural steel, as well as carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and painters.”
Construction industry jobs that require more advanced education and training are also in high demand across Westchester and the Hudson Valley. The Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) project, which is bringing Canadian hydroelectric power to New York City, is one example, notes David Brezler, owner of construction project management and data analytics firm Brezler LLC. “This offshore wind project requires massive grid-upgrade work. That, coupled with
the ongoing electrification of transportation, means that the design and engineering professionals associated with grid modernization, upgrades, and restoration will be exceedingly busy,” Brezler explains.
One of the largest labor shortages, he adds, will be in
the project management side of these efforts. “There is an opportunity to create pipelines of project management talent with existing project management organizations right here in Westchester,” Brezler notes.
Project management training is available through multiple different avenues, including the Construction Management Association of America, he says.
30 2022 SKILLS What’s Hot. What’s Next. What’s Needed.
© Courtesy of Kings Capital Construction Group