One of the less visible components of building a house is not just a key to unlocking better affordability, but also an economic ecosystem that provides career long opportunities to those willing to get their hands (just a little) dirty. 

On today’s episode of Framing the Issue, hosts Aaron Kersey and Morgan Smith sit down with Matt Price of Price Brothers Plumbing and Jake Kennedy of Builders Bridge to discuss how the industry of labor affects housing affordability, but also provides young people with a career path that can be rewarding financially without the burden of education-related debt. 

Matt and Jake talk about the evolving industry of labor, the importance of immigrant labor, and the opportunities available to those choosing that career path. Matt talks about how his family owned business trains new workers on the job and emphasizes the importance of real world experience, while Jake shows how organizations like Builders Bridge are making it possible for new workers to find placement within the industry.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the episode and guests

00:27 Guest Matt Price's background and experience in plumbing

02:12 Guest Jake Kennedy's background and family in construction

04:42 Getting into the construction industry: family influence and personal choices

08:55 Current landscape of entry-level jobs in the trades

09:21 The structure and diversity of a plumbing company

12:13 The importance and safety of plumbing work

14:02 The financial benefits and pay in the trades

16:03 Why people avoid trades and how to change perceptions

17:30 Entry wages and upward mobility in trades

20:03 Changing perceptions of trades among youth

22:01 Trade immersion tours for students

24:20 Impact of college debt and alternative career paths

28:37 Personal stories of career progression in trades

30:01 Experience vs. education in hiring decisions

32:04 Role of CTE and community college programs

35:40 Diversity, immigration, and workforce gaps in construction

40:02 Private equity's influence on small construction businesses

43:30 Advice to young people considering trades

46:27 Closing remarks and call to action

Links:

Builders Bridge