How can we make sure there are enough well qualified construction workers in the workforce pipeline?

Our association is committed to workforce development in our region and supports a variety of initiatives to help ensure a well-trained pipeline leading to fulfilling construction careers exists in southern Missouri. Builders’ participates in Build My Future, an annual career expo event with hundreds of student participants.

The Build My Future Career Expo was created to show high school students potential career opportunities in construction and to shed light on the industry’s meaningful and well-paying jobs available. In its inaugural year, Build My Future hosted 900 students and by 2019 participation had more than doubled. The Build My Future Committee, in which Builders’ participates, includes a mix of government, private industry, nonprofit, education and union representatives. Today, Build My Future is one of the largest events of its kind in the country. The Springfield Build My Future Collaborative invites schools from across southern Missouri to participate in a day of hands-on exhibits, including activities representing architecture, construction, bricklaying, heavy equipment operating, virtual reality simulations, welding and more. To get involved with Build My Future, taking place April 13 this year, reach out to me directly or check out www.buildersassociation.com to learn more about our workforce development efforts! 

Meet the Expert

Miles Boyer is the Springfield Office Manager for The Builders' Association, which is a nonprofit commercial construction trade association serving hundreds of member companies that employ over 25,000 people in mid-America. Founded in 1887, The Builders’ Association has advanced the construction industry by delivering safety, craft and management training; employment, labor and government relations; and construction plans and technology tools.

Four service and training centers operate in Kansas City, Jefferson City and Springfield to serve both union and nonunion member companies and to aid collaboration by connecting passionate people and businesses, with a vision of improving lives through construction.

This is accomplished in several ways, including:

• 3,000+ safety trainees annually. 

• Community outreach. 

• 1,500+ apprentices in cosponsored programs. 

• Delivery of business education and professional development. 

• Negotiation of 27 collective bargaining agreements. 

• Coadministration and trustee-appointment authority for 28 fringe funds with over $3 billion in assets. 

• Government relations services at the local and state level, as well as federally through AGC Kansas City, a chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America and the association’s sister organization.