LAS VEGAS – Íæż½ã½ã of America (Íæż½ã½ã) today announced that Virginia Tech University will receive its annual William A. Klinger Research Award to fund its study on the construction industry's shortage of skilled workers.
The $25,000 award from the Íæż½ã½ã Education & Research Foundation supports cutting–edge and timely construction research topics that produce a deliverable plan with practical usage for the construction industry—recent research topics include building information modeling, LEED and work force development.
"The construction industry is facing a critical work force shortage," notes Jack Kelley, William A. Klinger Task Force Chair and past Íæż½ã½ã President. "This shortage is considered, by most, to be one of the industry's foremost challenges; the number of qualified people entering the work force and the difficulties of recruitment both contribute to this alarming trend."
The objective of Virginia Tech University's research is to explore potential remedies for the existing and projected construction work force shortage in the areas of recruitment and/or retention. The study will identify existing programs that are targeting recruitment and retention of individuals in the construction industry—specifically craft workers; assess the attitudes, perceptions and interest of school–age students, the existing construction and non–construction work force towards the construction industry; and develop short–term and long–term strategic plans for recruitment and retention practices.
Research topics are developed by the Íæż½ã½ã Education & Research Foundation Board of Directors in cooperation with the Íæż½ã½ã's Construction Education Committee, and request for proposals are sent to universities across the country for consideration.
The Íæż½ã½ã Education & Research Foundation was founded in 1968 as a non–profit charitable organization dedicated to improving the science of construction. In addition to providing scholarships to students and recognition of students and faculty for their outstanding accomplishments, the Foundation's mission is to support research and other programs deemed to be beneficial to the advancement of the construction industry. The William A. Klinger Memorial Award was established in 1972 to honor the Foundation's first president.
Íæż½ã½ã of America (Íæż½ã½ã) is the largest and oldest national construction trade association in the United States. Íæż½ã½ã represents 33,000 firms, including 7,500 of America's leading general contractors and 12,500 specialty–contracting firms. More than 13,000 service providers and suppliers are associated with Íæż½ã½ã through a nationwide network of chapters. Visit the Íæż½ã½ã Web site at . Íæż½ã½ã members are "Building Your Quality of Life."
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