Construction Needs Skilled Workers

Construction, which slacked off during the Great Recession, is back with a boom in Columbus.

The number of people employed in the trades is rising at one of the fastest rates in the nation.

Central Ohio had 35,200 construction workers at the end of February, up 17 percent from the previous February.

This percentage gain, tracked by the Associated General Contractors of America, is even more impressive because, of the top 30 cities on the list of 358 cities, Columbus was the largest.

But there’s a reason for concern: A shortage of skilled workers could loom. Many longtime construction workers are set to retire and too few young people are ready to take their places.

This shines a light on the need to promote vocational education in schools. Not everyone wants to, or should, go into a career that requires four years of college.

A journalist, lawyer or doctor is not very useful when a job calls for a plumber, electrician, carpenter, welder, mason or painter. These are vital skills that pay well.

All the effort to turn Columbus into an even larger, more-attractive city will require a new generation of men and women who know how to do this work.