Podcast Videos

The construction workforce shortage is accelerating. The industry is losing skilled workers faster than it can replace them. The average craft professional is now 48 to 54 years old. For every five people leaving the trades, only one is coming in. Meanwhile, project demand keeps rising, especially with new data center and infrastructure construction. Jennifer Wilkerson, VP of Innovation and Advancement at NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research), joins Ryan Ware on Activating Curiosity to break down what this talent gap means for construction and AEC leaders. • The average craft professional is 48 to 54 years old • Five people leave the trades for every one who enters • Project demand is growing, not shrinking The Shift: this isn't just a recruiting problem. It's a structural challenge that threatens the future of project delivery, and construction leaders have to build their way out of it by developing the next generation of skilled workers. Watch the full…

The construction industry is facing a skilled labor shortage, but simply competing for experienced workers isn't a long-term solution. Construction companies need to invest in training and develop the next generation of skilled workers. Everyone wants journey-level people on day one. But as Jennifer puts it, for every five people leaving, only one is coming in. The contractors winning work aren't hiring their way out of that gap. They're building stronger talent pipelines. Jennifer Wilkerson, VP of Innovation and Advancement at NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research), joins Ryan Ware to discuss skilled trades training, workforce development, and why training is no longer an expense. It's a strategic investment. What we cover: • Why the average craft professional is now 48 to 54 years old, and what that means for your next project • Why hiring only journey-level workers is a short-game strategy • How one contractor kept training through COVID while others cut…

Your construction team has no time to think. Here's why you're losing people. There are less people in offices now because the industry continues to lose head count. If everyone feels like they don't have time to think, what kind of environment are you creating? In this clip, executive coach Ryan Ware reacts to his conversation with Ryan Sullivan, founder of Off the Beaten Path Financial, for construction and AEC leaders rethinking how they lead busy crews. - Grind culture kills reflection, and without reflection crews repeat the same staffing mistakes - From a business standpoint and a leader, the question shifts from output to environment - Leaders who protect thinking time keep the people the industry is losing The shift: pressure keeps projects moving, but only space keeps people. Your construction team doesn't need more grind to feel alive, it needs a leader who makes room to think. Watch the full episode: Why Construction Professionals Make Good Money But Struggle to Build …

Construction and AEC leaders — new hires can't hit the ground running without mentorship and real onboarding. The expectation sounds efficient. In practice it sets junior staff up to fail, and then they leave. "Every firm says, I want somebody who can hit the ground running." Bryce Batts, Co-Founder of Career Collective, has spent 20 years recruiting in architecture, engineering, and construction. * Junior hires need someone showing them the ropes * Deadline pressure is where mentoring slips first * Small to midsize firms feel this gap the most The shift: new hire onboarding is team development, and team development is leadership. Full episode: "Why Construction Leaders Can't Hire Their Way Out of the Labor Shortage" — watch here: [link]

Why do busy construction professionals put off financial planning? Ryan Sullivan explains why lack of time and attention — not necessarily a lack of financial knowledge — can prevent construction and AEC professionals from taking control of their finances. In this clip, Ryan Ware and Ryan Sullivan discuss the relationship between time, financial planning and long-term financial stability, and why making space to focus on your finances matters. Watch the full conversation to learn more about personal finance and building wealth for construction professionals. Full episode: Why Construction Professionals Make Good Money But Struggle to Build Wealth https://youtu.be/Z645S5ipqMs?si=Nf2iL2Vry8sndeFC

Why do construction and engineering professionals hit a salary ceiling even as their experience and performance improve? Former mechanical engineer Ryan Sullivan explains why traditional salary bands can limit earning potential — and why compensation doesn't always reflect the value an individual brings to a company. Ryan Ware and Ryan Sullivan discuss construction salaries, engineering careers, earning potential and employee retention, and why some high-performing professionals eventually look beyond traditional employment. Full episode: Why Construction Professionals Make Good Money But Struggle to Build Wealth Watch the full episode: Why Construction Professionals Make Good Money But Struggle to Build Wealth https://youtu.be/Z645S5ipqMs ActivatingCuriosity.com ConnectiveConsultingGrp.com Connect on LinkedIn: Ryan Ware | Activating Curiosity

Why is the construction industry so slow to change? Ryan Sullivan, a former mechanical engineer turned financial advisor, discusses why construction and AEC can be slow to adopt new ways of working — and how established habits and industry thinking can make change difficult. Ryan Ware and Ryan Sullivan discuss change in construction, resistance to change and why construction leaders need to challenge established ways of working as the industry evolves. Full episode: Why Construction Professionals Make Good Money But Struggle to Build Wealth Watch the full episode: Why Construction Professionals Make Good Money But Struggle to Build Wealth https://youtu.be/Z645S5ipqMs?si=Nf2iL2Vry8sndeFC

Construction and AEC leaders are caught in a money trap where hard work isn't building wealth. Most construction leaders get finance wrong. Not because they aren't smart enough, but because the culture tells them to grind through and figure out money later. That delay is costing talent, margin, and freedom. In this episode I'm joined by Ryan Sullivan, former mechanical engineer turned founder of Off the Beaten Path Financials, to talk about why problem-solvers who build complex projects struggle to build financial stability. What we cover: Why love of the craft keeps construction professionals stuck in pay ceilings How typical job structures tie income to bands, not performance Why no time and no capacity for finances predicts financial stress How money as a tool unlocks time, choice, and control What leaders miss when firms only talk 401k once a year How to apply jobsite problem-solving to personal and business finances Why the low-margin story in construction is a belief, not a l…

Construction and AEC leaders: stop ignoring the daily friction in your construction management workflow. That's where your best automation ideas are. Casey Bell, CEO of Aecore and co-founder of BuildZen, looked at every layer of the job: winning the work, starting it, running it, closing it out. In every layer, the biggest wins for software came from the small things that annoyed his team every day. • Why the best construction technology starts with frustration, not features • How to spot automation opportunities across your project lifecycle • How to improve workflow efficiency and get your team's time back The shift: stop asking "what could we build?" Start asking "what slows us down every day?" ▶ Full episode: https://youtu.be/k_gkMlB7yYs?si=BkyaN_36H0v5GIdu Subscribe for practical construction leadership and construction automation strategies. #constructionpodcast #constructiontechnology #constructioninnovation

Construction and AEC leaders — if candidates can't tell your firm apart, your company culture isn't showing up in your job postings. Values on the wall don't count as culture. Candidates read your postings, not your mission statement. "Every company thinks they're different and unique and then you look at their job descriptions or their website and it reads like 10 other firms." Bryce Batts, Co-Founder of Career Collective, has spent 20 years recruiting in architecture, engineering, and construction. * Values that stay filed away never become culture * Generic job postings make you invisible when candidates hold the power * Standing out comes from what you actually do, not what you claim The shift: culture you actually live is your best recruiting tool. Full episode: "Why Construction Leaders Can't Hire Their Way Out of the Labor Shortage" — watch here: https://youtu.be/amCoQnvrtPc?si=LE887ORRTJSRnO7T