By Gene Marks
Publication Date: 2025-12-28 15:00:00
WAs I stood on the sidelines watching a high school football game, my friend, who owned a small and successful construction business, complained that his son – a senior – was starting at a prestigious local university in the fall, which would cost about $200,000 over the next four years.
“I could take the same money and put him in a contracting business,” he said. “It would be a much better investment.”
That was in 2010. The boy attended this college and four years later graduated with a degree in history. Where do you think he is now? Working in the construction industry.
Ask anyone who works in the construction industry and they will complain about the lack of skilled workers in their industry. The numbers support these concerns. The Associated General Contractors of America reported last year that 92% of companies had difficulty filling jobs and 45% delayed at least one project due to labor shortages. A Labor Shortage Model from Associated Builders and Contractors
