Peggy’s Blog:
Inside the Mind of an Educator
His name is Irfaan Peerun, Griffith University, Australia. That’s the name you should be pondering as we continue to introduce you to him. And if you have been following this blog for some time, then you will likely have heard many of the statistics related to the labor shortage in the construction industry. Here in the United States, we know the industry is short roughly half a million workers on top of the normal pace of hiring. Over in Australia, the government needs to have 1.2 million houses built by 2029—and the country is hosting the Olympics in 2032, thus it needs more skilled workforce as well. Where can we start? Education.
This is precisely one of the reasons Bentley Systems launched an Educator of the Year award. “What motivates and inspires us here is the talent gap problem—both capacity and capability,” says Chris Bradshaw, chief sustainability and education officer, Bentley Systems. “We need more engineers, and we want to ensure both the current and next generation of professionals are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in the industry.”
Laura’s Blog:
Study Uncovers Top Safety Challenges in Construction
Is safety the key to enticing more workers to consider a career in the construction industry? It certainly isn’t the only step, but it is one pillar, and the investment in safety is worth it for a number of reasons. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Admin.) shares some interesting statistics, saying companies save more than $4-6 for every $1 spent on workplace safety.
So, why then isn’t jobsite safety a greater priority? Let’s unpack some statistics that point to many of the safety challenges that still exist in the construction industry in 2025 in hopes that we can address them in 2026 and beyond.
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