Key industry players have established a task force to find ways of attracting young people into the building and construction industry.
BCIPP targets schools
Key industry players have established a task force to find ways of attracting young people into the building and construction industry.
The Building and Construction Industry Promotion Program (BCIPP), chaired by builder Dale Alcock, will be launched in August and follows a forum last year that identified a need for the industry to take a lead role in creating and maintaining a sustainable building and construction industry workforce.
Major problems identified with the industry’s workforce by the forum included: a lack of interest on behalf of young people in joining the BCI; a fall in apprentice numbers; and a current severe skills shortage, which will become more acute as baby boomer trades people retire over the next decade.
Mr Alcock said the BCIPP was trying to address a perception that a career in the BCI was not desirable.
“It is all very well for industry to talk, and everyone knows about the problems, but we must get in and change the stereotypical image of the industry,” Mr Alcock told WA Business News.
“It really is a unique industry where you can earn as you learn, and the trades can be a great stepping stone.”
The BCIPP will attempt to attract young people to the industry by approaching students through school visitation programs and careers advisers.
“Parents and career advisers have good intentions, but don’t fully understand the opportunities that the industry represents,” Mr Alcock said.
“It is fast moving, contains a lot of choice, and has a lot of earning capacity. The fundamentals are positive because WA is a growth State which is the economic hub of the country.”
The BCIPP will work with current initiatives by the State and Federal governments, such as the ‘new apprenticeships’ advertising and the ‘big plans’ website just launched by the Housing Industry Association.
HIA executive director John Dastlik said the BCIPP was a very good initiative and that it would help people understand the benefit of trades.
“Through the trades a lot of people become builders or developers in their own right – Dale Alcock is an excellent example of this.” he said.
“There is a real need to wake up students, parents and careers advisers to the $3.5 to $4 billion industry in this State, which has significant and ongoing employment prospects.”
