The rattle of diesel engines. The distinctive clank of the treads of heavy equipment. The silent, graceful dance of the crane swinging equipment and materials into place. The smell of fresh-cut lumber. The swish of concrete as it slides into forms for foundations, floors, walls or bridge decks.
Construction fills the senses.
From airports to zoos, those who work with their hands are building communities. For generations, craft workers have applied their skills with pride to improve the quality of life for themselves and their neighbors. But today, the industry is challenged because fewer young men and women seem inclined to pursue construction as a career. There are more than 200,000 construction workers in Washington. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, that number needs to grow by as much as 20 percent by 2008.