8 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2023
A SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS
MHCA photos
Heavy construction workers IN HIGH DEMAND
construction companies said among the priorities for recruiting workers are awareness – seeing more applications for jobs posted – and reliability. The respondents also noted heavy construction companies are having to attract workers through competitive wages, as other industries are similarly finding it difficult to recruit. The survey results suggested that more needs to be done to raise awareness about the various types of jobs, the conditions, hours of work and the benefits of working seasonally. The respondents noted that potential recruits could be attracted by the many benefits of the job that go alongside the responsibilities. What’s intriguing about working in heavy construction is no two days are the same and you will be challenged, mentally and physically. The other attractive part is that a new, entry-level worker does not need post- secondary education. For too long, the message ingrained during school and at home for so many people was that to be successful in your career, you must go to university. Now, it is recognized that well- paying jobs and rewarding careers are available in construction, without the need for a degree or certification. Jeremy Shebaylo, directional drill locator for Crown Pipeline Ltd., attended university after high-school, only to realize that style of learning wasn’t for him. He then turned to heavy construction for an opportunity to make money and grow his skillset. “I didn’t enjoy university the way I saw everyone else enjoying it. I knew that life wasn’t for me,” Shebaylo says. “When I turned to heavy construction, I started as a labourer and started to really enjoy it.” After Shebaylo made his way as a labourer and the company saw he was showing up every day and working hard, he was trained to be a fuser, and in a short time, became a directional drill locator. “The opportunities are endless,” Shebaylo says. “Now I make over $80,000 a year in heavy construction.” As the workforce ages out and new opportunities present themselves, now is the best time to start a career in heavy construction.
100 YEARS OF DELIVERING EXCELLENCE IN WORKMANSHIP
Jessie Smith is MHCA WORKSAFELY Education Programs Coordinator
T he heavy construction industry is hungry for workers, from entry- level positions, all the way to project managers. John Highmoor, chair of the MHCA Workforce Development Committee, says there is one thing that sets our industry – why it should be attractive to new workers – apart. “In our industry, there is a lot of opportunities to develop your skills through on-the-job training. This results in career advancement and higher wages all while you are getting paid to train, develop and learn,” says Highmoor, Vice-president of Tri- Core Projects. “Our industry realizes that productive workers are the key to success. As a result, we are excited to provide the resources needed to train and develop our staff.” Heavy construction differs from other industries as most jobs are not journey- person based; here you earn as you learn. Companies have the tools and equipment to train their employees on-the-job to help excel them in their careers. What companies in the heavy construction industry look for are individuals who are ready to work hard, diligently, and eager to move up into the many higher-level positions that are open. In a recent MHCA survey, heavy
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