Spearheaded by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and Build Your Future (BYF), the eighth annual Careers in Construction Month (CICM) will return this October. The campaign was launched to increase public awareness, inspire the next generation of construction craft professionals and make an impact on the perceptions of a career in construction. To date, 39 states have filed proclamation requests and are ready to begin celebrating rewarding careers and recognizing the men and women who build America.
Although construction offers job satisfaction, lucrative salaries and high skills, it is facing a critical shortage of workers. To help build a pipeline of talent, BYF is encouraging partnerships between industry and education this CICM.
Florida is one of several states where official proclamations commemorating Careers in Construction Month have been requested.
In 2020, BYF is asking the construction industry to pledge their support and make a dedicated effort to connect with students during the week of October 19-23, both virtually or in-person.
For signing the pledge, companies will receive access to exclusive resources, including a website scavenger hunt, Tips and Tricks for Connecting with Schools guide and social media images.
Companies will also be entered into a drawing to win one of three $5,000 scholarships given to the construction craft training program of their choice. More information can be found at www.byf.org/CICM.
BYF has also released enhanced resources for educators and industry representatives to show how rewarding a career in construction can be, including an interactive Which Craft Pro Are You? quiz, four new trading cards, and video series such as Success Stories and Discover More. In addition, the sixth annual “I BUILT THIS!” video contest will be open for entries beginning Oct. 1.
Proclaiming October as Careers in Construction Month is already gaining traction this year with the following states receiving their official proclamations: Alabama, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Tennessee.
In addition to North Carolina, the following have filed proclamation requests: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.