Why Hiring Only Journeymen Fails Construction Companies

Relying solely on journey-level workers is a flawed strategy. Here's why your construction hiring model is failing.

Everybody wants journey-level pipefitters and electricians on day one, with no helpers and no apprentices. But there are no longer enough journeymen in any trade to fill every position. The skilled trades shortage isn't a temporary blip. It's a permanent reality.

Jennifer Wilkerson, VP of Innovation and Advancement at NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research), joins Ryan Ware on Activating Curiosity to explain why construction and AEC leaders can't recruit their way out of the talent gap.

• Why journey-level-only staffing breaks down under today's project demand
• Why competing for experienced workers isn't a long-term solution
• The short game vs. building sustainable internal pipelines

The Shift: effective construction leadership means moving away from short-term fixes. If your business model depends on finding people who are already fully trained, you're operating on borrowed time.

Watch the full episode: Why Construction Companies Need to Invest in Training

Is your firm developing journeymen or competing for them?

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