Civil Engineer (PrEng) and Managing Director of a Civil Engineering Consulting firm Kea van der Merwe shares her hardhatOPINION on how to make the built environment attractive to the GenZ in response to a research saying "Fewer than one-third of Generation Z would consider a career in the built environment"
The truth of the matter is that the Construction industry can be dangerous because creating something robust and tangible comes with a bit of hard work and sometimes dirt. Regardless of what it is. Gen Z’s are growing up in a world of advanced technology where anything can be modelled and seen on a computer screen or 3D model.
The illusion of this pretty picture somewhat creates an idea that you don’t need to be involved in the dirty work; building this immaculate structure can stop at this model phase. People can make lots of money, working from home in their pyjamas why would they want to go and work outside in the scorching sun with dust and dirt everywhere to make about half or way less than what you could earn by working from home or in a nice corporate office.
A lot of young people like the idea of a crisp corporate environment where they can enjoy work in an air conditioned office and they sit around large boardroom tables with or as executives. What they fail to realize is that the same happens in the built environment, yes a big portion of our work is outside exposed to the harsh elements but there’s still a group of executives that sit around the table to ensure that the projects carry on and Infrastructure development continues in our country which is good for our growing economy.
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A lot of young people think Construction begins and ends outside on construction sites, which I believe may be a driving factor in making this industry unappealing to GenZ’s. Safety boots and hard hats just aren’t fashionable enough.
Young professionals in the built environment need to have more engagements where they promote the beauty and importance of our industry. To ensure that the picture of Construction does not start and end with the physical hard labour. To promote the planning and design phases of Construction as well. We all love money but at some point the passion and fulfillment of creating something that will outlive us as a generation should be the driving force to want to invest more in infrastructure.
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I agree fully with the writer and will add that the education system needs to also cater for those who will not make it as professionals and executives giving them an entry level gateway too to reach goals and aspirations.
ReplyDeleteI am talking the engine room of construction, the artisanal side. Without this a nation is doomed and will not manufacture anything of substance without artisans. Even these 3d needs some form of technical expertise to effect
Someone has to do the hard graft after all or we will end up sourcing skilled individuals at a premium form outside out borders.
So my point is revamping grass roots approach, adding technology to entry level coursework for artisanal training and incorporating appropriate technology on building sites is the way forward