Build Your Future Virginia Formed to Help Close the Construction Skills Gap
ALACHUA, Fla. — Determined to make an impact on the skilled workforce shortages facing the construction industry in Virginia, a new partnership has been formed by the Virginia chapters of Associated General Contractors (AGCVA) and Associated Builders and Contractors (ABCVA) in conjunction with Build Your Future (BYF) to be a catalyst for recruiting the next generation of craft professionals. Build Your Future Virginia encourages residents of the Commonwealth to learn about careers and training opportunities emerging throughout Virginia in these high demand occupations. “With the challenges the construction industry is facing attracting new employees, we felt it imperative that the two major construction trade groups in the state stand together and work to solve this issue,” said Patrick Dean of ABCVA.
Providing details about salaries in construction, training available in Virginia and companies hiring, BYF Virginia represents a lifeline for parents, teachers, school counselors and students thinking about their future. Designed to help students who are looking into options beyond the traditional university track, this resource highlights pathways to find meaningful, good-paying positions in the construction industry through work-based learning, certifications and credentials. With 70 percent of jobs not needing a four-year degree, these careers offer less debt and more job opportunities.
BYF Virginia is focusing on three main areas to make as much of a difference as possible:
- Connecting the dots by providing a path from interest to training to job placement as a craft professional.
- Shifting perception through shaping the public’s opinion about careers in the construction industry to reflect the wide range of professions available.
- Advocating for career and technical education as a priority in all schools and the Department of Education.
“With construction companies expected to hire more than 170,000 workers in Virginia through 2021, AGCVA and ABCVA coming together to form BYF Virginia was a crucial effort to meeting the demand for qualified craft professionals while helping individuals achieve their career goals,” said Courtney Baker, Workforce Solutions Manager of AGCVA. For more information, visit virginia.byf.org or call 1.877.443.5115.
BYF Virginia is the result of stakeholders having a vested interest in each other’s success and collaborating to promote craft careers and facilitate training. As Virginia’s construction industry expands, organizations using these resources will be able to help work toward closing the skills gap among the state’s craft workforce. While BYF resources are available for any organization, BYF partners have the ability to customize material with their own branding and information, which can contribute greatly to the success of their individual state campaigns. For more information on partnering with BYF, please visit byf.org.
About Build Your Future – Build Your Future (BYF) is a national image enhancement and recruitment initiative for the construction industry. Its mission is to recruit the next generation of craft professionals by making career and technical education a priority in secondary schools, shifting negative public perception about careers in the construction industry and providing a path from ambition, to training, to job placement as a craft professional. BYF provides a number of resources to assist industry, education and military organizations in achieving these goals. For more information, visit byf.org.
About The Associated General Contractors of Virginia – The Associated General Contractors of Virginia, Inc. is an influential construction trade organization divided into nine districts across the state. Its mission is to address critical industry issues and provide effective solutions to help grow business through networking, education and legislative programs and activities, training classes and more. For more information, visit agcva.org.
About Associated Builders and Contractors Virginia Chapter – The Associated Builders and Contractors Virginia Chapter is a statewide, pro-business association representing construction and construction-related firms. With three regional offices throughout the state, it is dedicated to representing the interests of merit-shop contractors and provides value through education and training, service networking and political advocacy. For more information, visit abcva.org