Recently, the construction employment numbers for 2022 were released, and once again we learned that workers chose “merit shop” as the best path for them to achieve their career dreams. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 88.3% of workers chose to work in a merit-shop environment—up 0.9% from 2021.
It’s obvious that, when given a choice, workers will opt for the best path for themselves and their families. Job openings in construction hovered around 400,000 throughout 2022, according to BLS, while ABC forecasted a need for an additional 650,000 workers to meet demand. With such an abundance of opportunity, merit-shop workers can write their own ticket!
They can choose to join a union or not to. They can choose which company they want to work for. They can choose to work as an independent contractor, eventually start their own company and hire other workers.
In America, choice and merit are the lifeblood of “excellence in construction.” When there is an opportunity to choose based on value, quality, ability, skill and excellence, you choose the best. When clients have a choice, when employees have a choice, when you have a choice, innovation flows like a river full of life. Without choice, competition disappears and that river of innovation turns into a stagnant swamp.
At ABC Convention 2023 in Kissimmee, Florida, this month, we will celebrate those Top Performer construction companies that build America, dominate markets and employ the best talent in the construction field. We will conduct our National Craft Championships and our Construction Management Competition, and we’ll present our Excellence in Construction® Awards—recognizing the country’s best craft apprentices, teams from industry-recognized construction degree colleges and universities and awards and top-performing contractors.
If you’re curious about why the merit shop has grown by millions of workers or how ABC member companies have come to dominate markets and build America—you’ll find the answers at ABC Convention.
