An aging and retiring population is directly impacting the number of craft professionals. New, innovative building materials and technology require added education and training to perform certain tasks. In our industry, it's difficult to dispute that our most important asset is people. But the most important person might not always be the craft professional. The instructor plays an integral role often overlooked in the labor-shortage issue.
Instructors train the next generation of skilled craft professionals for the industry.
Without them we are nothing. But it's difficult to promote a positive image of the industry to kids today, and it's even harder to get these kids interested in construction as a possible career path. But the most inspiring challenge is finding a craft instructor who can maintain students' interest and help them develop a passion for a particular trade. In the past year, I have worked on various projects with Basil Wilbur Jr., a steam-fitting instructor for the Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin Apprenticeship Program. I was amazed to learn the impact one instructor can have on the industry.