I Build America Instilling pride in the construction industry
By David Gargaro
Editor’s Note: This article was written in February 2020, well before the
COVID-19 pandemic made dramatic impacts on all facets of society;
since that time, signs of economic uncertainty, including a sharp rise in
jobless claims, have manifested in the U.S. and elsewhere. At this time,
it is unclear what lasting impact COVID-19 will have on the construction
sector Awhich previously had been flourishing. merica’s construction industry is facing a growing
labor shortage. The average age of people in the construction
trades continues to increase, and companies
within the industry are having difficulty attracting the next
generation of employees. Many young people don’t consider going
into the construction trades, including construction engineering
and construction management. While these are challenging
careers, they are also financially rewarding and provide a sense of
pride and accomplishment.
Mike Rydin, CEO of HCSS, a construction software company,
often heard that his clients were having difficulty attracting new
and young people to the construction industry. In 2017, he decided
to address these concerns by launching I Build America, a grassroots
organization that “focuses on building pride in the construction
industry, educating the public about the value of construction
and recruiting the next generation of construction professionals.”
The organization has developed resources to help showcase the
benefits of working in this field.
“The construction industry offers a lot of career opportunities,
and many young people don’t understand what they can earn
without having to go through years of education,” said Susanna
Jakubik, manager of I Build America. “We’ve created videos,
PowerPoint presentations and articles that demonstrate what it’s
like to work in the construction industry. We’ve shared images,
statistics and personal stories from the industry on all our social
media platforms. We’ve also created career fair kits and other
resources to help with recruiting the next generation of construction
professionals.”
I Build America is very active on social media, which is where
many members of its target audience spend their time. The organization
creates different content based on how people use various
platforms. For example, on Instagram and Twitter, it posts videos
and pictures of “cool people and equipment” from the construction
industry, often using the hashtag #ibuildamerica. On Facebook
and LinkedIn, it publishes industry stories and statistics that are
relevant to business owners. By tracking impressions, email opens
Photos courtesy of I Build America
92 | ISSUE 2 2020 www.piledrivers.org
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