I’ve shared my thoughts on philanthropy and construction being unusual partners but what if I said economic opportunities and philanthropy? How about social mobility and philanthropy? It feels obvious, right? Enter the case for construction as an impactful community and economic development priority.

NCCER is the National Center for Construction Education and Research. The organization builds the curricula for anyone training to be a craft professional. On the surface it seems fairly straight forward but there is a lot more under the surface. NCCER also works with partners to create training programs for underserved individuals to help them earn industry-recognized credentials they can use to get good jobs – some of the best paying in our country. This past year, the organization has been working to expand career and technical education into more high schools. Through donations, NCCER provides tools, training, and resources to help educators from other disciplines learn about construction. Similarly, it helps construction professionals interested in entering the classroom learn how to teach, filling a critical shortage of technical education teachers. 

Coming from secondary school education for the majority of my professional career, I was a fierce advocate for going to college to get a good job. What you may not know is that my father was a craft professional. While I took the college route, many of the people I grew up around did not. Those people had beautiful homes, boats, fun vacations, and looked pretty successful to me. My heart always felt pulled in two directions. Time and again I heard that I had to go to college to be successful. So I did. But what I saw told me otherwise. 

One thing I learned in my career working in schools is that education is changing. Even advanced placement courses are looking for ways to move away from lecture style classes to better engage with students. They know that good learning isn’t about memorization, it’s about application. Creating hands-on learning opportunities is now the norm, not the exception. Education is circling back to something that the construction industry has known for years, people learn by doing. If COVID taught us anything it is that sitting at a desk 40 hours per week isn’t for everyone. Many people decided that lifestyle wasn’t for them. At the same time, students are learning that they don’t want that life for themselves. Students today are much smarter than I was. They are discerning consumers. They know that $100,000 in student loan debt for a liberal arts degree is not the path to financial freedom. 

Major news outlets are coining Gen Z the “toolbelt generation” and it’s because they see another path forward. So if students are gaining interest in the trades, and construction jobs are some of the fastest growing and highest paying in the country, why are we unilaterally talking about scholarships and not technical education as the answer to economic opportunity and social mobility? This is why we need to think differently about construction education as a philanthropic investment. 

Our world depends on builders. We depend on data centers, laboratories, and infrastructure to grow as an economy. If we don’t develop a pipeline of people to fill those roles, projects get behind and industries stall. Not having people in those roles can slow global commerce – think about that. It’s easy to see why jobs in the construction industry are among the most in-demand in our nation. 

Exploring the intersection of construction, economic development, education, and social impact was an “ah-ha” moment for me. It’s a complex problem. Attracting people to the trades is akin to fighting a war on multiple fronts. First, you need to help people understand what the construction industry looks like in 2024, it’s not all about digging ditches. We need to change the perception of “blue collar” work. Second, we need people to understand the demand and economic opportunities that exist within the construction industry; AI is not taking these jobs anytime soon. Third, we need to think about the scores of people living in poverty who could have their lives changed if they were given access to these positions. This is why construction education and credentialing matters. Building the bridges between these topics is how we create meaningful and measurable change. You’ve heard the phrase that a rising tide lifts all boats, entry into the trades is that tide and now is the time to lift others.