It is no secret that one of the most significant challenges the residential building industry has been facing over the past several years is the cost and availability of workers. The fallout includes delays in construction, and higher housing costs. To help address this growing problem, the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA) and a coalition of building industry partners recently held a Construction Hiring Event at Gallery Furniture’s WorkTexas.
GHBA joined WorkTexas, HomeAid Houston’s HomeAid Works, Building Talent Foundation, Home Builders Institute, Habitat for Humanity and Houston Community College to host 25 employer companies looking for new employees that are eager to work and willing to be trained or certified in positions within the construction industry. Ninety job seekers attended in person, 265 registered as job seekers via the GHBA pre-registration link, and there were over 300 job positions to fill.
Many of the job seekers who attended the hiring event were students from HCC and HBI, the WorkTexas program, Habitat for Humanity and local high schools.
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Employer companies that attended included home builders, construction industry vendors and suppliers.
“Taylor Morrison is here to support this great cause,” said Richard Bautista with Taylor Morrison Homes. “As part of a homebuilding company, it’s great to address the labor shortage in the industry, but more importantly assist hardworking folks with an opportunity to better their own lives in finding employment.”
“We are here today to find CDL drivers, the lifeline of our business,” said Maggie Hadley, senior human resources generalist for ARGOS Ready Mix. “Because of them we have stayed in business during COVID, and we are extremely busy. We need drivers.”
GHBA and the building industry partners continue to identify opportunities for workforce development locally and throughout an 11-county area.
The work force coalition is supporting additional efforts to recruit young workers such as sharing experiences within the construction industry and speaking to students about potential career paths, hosting students on field trips to see home construction in action, working with other industries on school district advisory boards for technical education and mentoring clients of social service organizations as they start their residential construction careers.
“Though many efforts have been underway to improve workforce development over the years” said Aimee Bertrand, GHBA CEO, “this new, strategic effort brings together GHBA efforts and engages new partners to help build our next generation of workers.”
For more information about careers in residential construction and opportunities for training, visit http://ghba.org/careers-in-construction/.
Construction Hiring Event volunteers 
Volunteer Rob Hellyer (left) visits with reps from Adams Homes who are seeking applicants for all levels of construction. 
Mr. Aquilar Department Chair for Construction Work Force at HCC and full time faculty member teaching construction management.
