How can changing attitudes in education relieve Construction skills shortages?
This article discusses how can changing attitudes towards neurodivergence and those with creative skills can help relieve skills shortages in the Construction Industry.
"If you don't work harder at school you'll end up on a building site."
How many boys (and girls) heard this and thought "that's not the career for me"?
How many were told that technical and creative subjects were for the "less academic"?
How many people who end up on site feel like failures?
How many of those told this at school were struggling with neurodivergence such as dyslexia, or ADHD and weren't getting the support they needed?
What message does this give about working in construction?
No wonder there is a skills shortage.
No wonder there is a mental health crisis in construction.
And yet the attributes that meant these men and women struggled in the classroom, masked, or were bullied at school, mean they make highly skilled and talented construction workers and trades people.
Two surveys from 2023 found that almost half of construction project managers and tradespeople describe themselves as neurodivergent.
We should be valuing these skills in childhood and nurturing pride in creative and neurodivergent people, not knocking them for the very skills the industry needs.
Neurodivergent skills and talents that are invaluable for construction
- 3D thinking and visualizing
- Spatial awareness
- Logic and thinking outside the box
- Math and engineering aptitude
- Creativity
- Problem solving
- Empathy
- Hand eye coordination and manual dexterity
- Energy, endurance and physical fitness
- Ability to work independently
- Hyperfocus and attention to detail
And many more.
There are many well paid talented men and women out there working in construction, as skilled tradespeople such as carpenters, mechanical or electrical engineers, plant operators, bricklayers, etc, or in management or office roles as quantity surveyors, project managers, site agents, health & safety, contracts and legal, architecture and design, technical, sales and much more, who are earning good money doing a very satisfying and valuable job that they enjoy.
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