BuildWitt and the National Utility Contractors Association partner to combat workforce shortages
The National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) has joined BuildWitt to help solve the workforce issues the construction industry is facing. With a dwindling recruiting pool, companies can't keep crews fully staffed to meet demands, and the problem is only growing with time.
The two companies will combine their resources to bring awareness to the issue and help companies access solutions to meet their specific needs.
Founded in 1964, the National Utility Contractors Association represents more than 1,800 U.S. utility and excavation contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers who provide the materials and workforce to build and maintain the U.S. network of water, sewer, gas, telecommunications, and electric infrastructure.
"Solving the utility construction industry's workforce shortages is going to be a team effort. BuildWitt and NUCA are working together to promote the American utility construction industry to our next generation. It's going to be their world to build and revitalize, and we want to show them what this essential industry offers to them and our communities. Our organizations are a natural fit as we move forward to build together a strong industry workforce," says Doug Carlson, NUCA CEO.
Since 2018, BuildWitt has been addressing common workforce problems by providing media and marketing services to companies in the Dirt World (i.e., infrastructure, earthmoving, utilities, site work, demolition, mining, materials, heavy equipment dealers, and supporting vendors). In 2022, BuildWitt launched a training platform with over 400 microlessons. The company's next step is establishing partnerships with other organizations driven by the same mission.
"We were excited when several different contractors suggested that we partner with NUCA as our first industry association partnership. NUCA has a well-deserved reputation as one of the more progressive and active associations in the industry, and their member companies provide the critical infrastructure for society. Working as partners, we can make a bigger impact on our workforce issues," says Dan Briscoe, president at BuildWitt.
BuildWitt has identified six primary causes for the workforce shortage: aging workforce, individuals choosing college instead of trades, record demand for infrastructure; fierce competition for workers from other industries, poor perception of blue-collar work, and different mindsets and desires among today's younger generation.
The company will strategize with each new partnership to address one or more of the specific root causes of the workforce shortage.
"We don't claim to have all the answers or solutions. What's missing isn't an effort or intent to solve the workforce problem – instead, it's a cohesive effort," says Aaron Witt, CEO of BuildWitt.
