Building California's future

Build California is a program of the AGC Construction Education Foundation (CEF), a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation that is dedicated to inspiring, developing, and equipping California’s current and future construction workforce.

 

Today 70% of college students graduate with student loans, averaging about $37,000 and dismal job prospects in their desired field. Despite increased media attention about on-going labor shortages and other workforce development efforts, young people simply aren’t considering (let alone pursuing) careers in the trades. According to AGC of America, 80% of contractors “report difficulty finding qualified craft workers to hire as [the] association calls for measures to rebuild workforce.”

 

So where’s the disconnect? The problem lies in people’s perception of the industry. We have to change hearts and minds – we have to redefine our industry; we have to re-educate Californians, and we have to invest in our own legacy so that future generations aspire to be tradespeople. Build California’s pioneering approach utilizes a mix of marketing, advertising, public relations, and grassroots outreach tactics in order to actively engage with Californians of all ages about the lucrative, long-term, and immediate benefits of careers in the state’s construction industry.

Our Mission: Build California is a comprehensive workforce development program created to inspire, engage and activate the next generation of California’s construction workforce. We do this by shaping positive perceptions of the construction industry, informing young people and their influencers about the real career opportunities in construction, connecting them to local training programs and employers.

 

Our Vision: Build California’s vision is to create a steady, motivated and skilled workforce pipeline for California’s construction industry. Our unique approach is defined by an ability to:
• Authentically showcase the diverse career and training pathways the modern industry has to offer.
• Effectively reach and inform audiences on multiple platforms with targeted messaging.
• Present a perspective on the industry that is actually “cool” to both young people & other target audiences.