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 Clark Construction Co. is a
family business, owed by Ron
and Sue Clark, renovating
South Hills homes for 37
years. Visit our showroom
at 3180 Industrial Blvd.
Bethel Park, 412 833-7222.
Website address:
www.clarkremodeling,com.
Don’t Send Your
Kids to College
Good, I have your attention! Where’s the next generation
of carpenters, bricklayers, tile installers and plasterers going to
come from?
Builders and remodelers across America respond similarly to the
question: “What is the #1 concern in this field?” and the answer for
years is the “lack of work force.” We have been in the remodeling
business for 37 years. Currently, we have eight carpenters and
apprentices on the job every day. We would like to expand, but the
dwindling work force hampers that decision. Now, the aging of baby
boomers, more than ever, threatens to deplete the existing workforce
even more.
Training so many of our youth to get college degrees instead of
encouraging them to acquire a trade skill has a direct and inevitable
impact on the rising cost of remodeling our homes. This will
eventually be a great concern, which nearly every homeowner will
face. While builders have maxed out their budgets providing the large
homes customers droll over –quality is often sacrificed. Buyers choose
expansive entrance halls with cathedral ceilings instead of wisely
spending more of their dollars on quality cabinets, tubs, faucets, doors
and windows. Where we once remodeled homes after they were 15-
20 years old, now it’s just 5-8 years. The demand is increasing, but
the workforce is decreasing.
Turning an old, ugly kitchen or those block basement walls into a
beautiful and efficient area of the home is so satisfying. Everyday is
different. Yes, sometimes it’s physically tough work. Certainly it’s
mentally challenging. Obstacles are sometimes hidden behind walls;
we must make the home appear straight and plumb, even when it
isn’t. Remodeling requires last-minute adaptations: problem solving;
even more gratifying when the challenge is great. The youth we hire
gain skills that will be useful the rest of their lives. We offer them
fascinating and specialized careers – immune to outsourcing! They
find pride and gratification in tearing out and transforming that
kitchen rather than adding columns of figures, running the same lab
test or working on a keyboard every day.
Our kids are not the problem – educators and parents are the
major obstacles in this predicament. Schools define success as
“percentage of college ready”. We’re failing our students. It’s a
prejudiced system because it implies that those in our field are not
smart; they’re uneducated and working in a dirty career. Perhaps our
own industry needs to change our thinking. After all, secretaries are
now administrative assistants; sales people are account managers. Job
descriptions should be associate carpenter or residential construction
technician – certainly not laborers or helpers.
There are so many opportunities and needs. There are many
young men and women who would be a good fit for the “trades”.
Let’s encourage them in a direction that might set them up for
wonderful careers. Let them know that “technical education” is not
anything to be ashamed of. We recognize that additional schooling
of any type is always helpful and encourage business and selfimprovement
classes. Not everyone learns the same way; some learn
with their hands. Don’t be blind to other skills or abilities. We don’t
want to leave these kids behind.
Give our kids a chance in life. Allow them to use their true
skills and abilities while building tremendous self esteem. The
opportunities are endless in these lucrative, intellectually challenging
and super gratifying jobs.
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