The construction industry
has an image problem that
could turn into a labor problem.
According to a recent survey,
young people perceive the
building trades as unsafe, dirty,
and uncreative. Construction
workers are described by the
grade school and college age
survey respondents as lacking
prestige, respectability, and
education.
"They're bums, people that
didn't get through high school
and are just looking for a job
that they can go through easily,"
according to one 17-yearold
survey respondent.
The survey was sponsored by
the Construction Industry
Workforce Foundation
(CIWF), an affiliation of about
19 industry associations dedicated
to attracting entry level
and skilled workers to the construction
trades.
While the results of the survey
were disappointing, they
were not unexpected, said John
Heffner, director of manpower
and training services for the
Associated