(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – No matter if it’s a Union or a Non-Union company in the construction industry, finding and attracting young people into the profession has been identified as the number one challenge as more older Workers head towards retirement.

Here in Western New York, the Construction Exchange of Buffalo and Western New York (CONEX) Incorporated - a Non-Profit Construction Industry Organization that’s been around since 1981 and currently has 900 Members - with about one-third of that number falling into the Union category, decided to take a different kind of approach in order to meet that challenge.

Recently, CONEX - whose mission is to promote and advance the Western New York Construction Industry, unveiled a new website and free App (to download in any of the Mobile App Stores) that provides a Job Board Link to its individual Members, who also include contractors, accountants and construction-related businesses, in order to create a job path and a meaningful career for those who are interested.

According to CONEX, the Hiring App is strictly for the Western New York Construction Industry’s Membership, which are provided with the ability to post any openings they have. 

Job seekers can create a profile and connect with the organization’s Member Companies directly through the App, and they can apply for open positions or look up companies they have interest in and message them about future openings.  Also, with the App Messaging System, the CONEX App can be used as a networking tool to connect with those who are hiring and also help provide students with internships or other non-full-time options.

“We’re ‘loving’ it,” David Muskopf - who serves as Vice President of Estimating for Union-represented MLP Plumbing & Mechanical in Suburban Cheektowaga, told WNYLaborToday.com in regards to the initiative taken by CONEX.

“It was a ‘fantastic’ idea because there are ‘good-paying jobs out there for those who are interested,’” said Muskopf, who company employs nearly 80 Workers, some of them represented by UA Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 22 in nearby West Seneca. 

“It’s ‘hard to find people at all.’  We ‘need to make sure that young people don’t overlook (those job opportunities) and this website and App serves as not only a great investment (by CONEX Members), but will serve as a liaison between us and them,’” he said.

CONEX Executive Director Joe Benedict tells Your On-Line Labor Newspaper that his group “thought (the effort) was a ‘good idea to reach young people.’”

“Eighty-five-percent of our Members ‘say that’s our number one challenge and now is the time to do something about it,’” Benedict said.  “There are ‘a lot of (construction-related) programs out there (BOCES, Erie Community College and at Buffalo’s McKinley High School), but a lot of people who go through them aren’t winding up in our industry.’  ‘Once they graduate, they’ve got to do something.’  ‘We need to show them there’s a different path so they can start thinking about (a career in the construction industry) right away.’”

Asked what the reaction of CONEX Members has been to the new website and App, Benedict answered: “A lot of people ‘had input’ (into the website and App) and they tell us they ‘love’ it.  They’ve been ‘challenged themselves’ to find Workers.  ‘Now, they’re able to post open jobs on it, but the challenge is to get Workers (to the site and App).’  ‘We have to educate them.’”

That job falls to Nate McConnell, CONEX’s new Workforce Coordinator who came aboard in November (2018) and who’s also responsible for traveling to area schools to make presentations to young people “who are not always thinking about their future,” Benedict said.

When WNYLaborToday.com sat down with McConnell, he told Your On-Line Labor Newspaper that a total of nearly 30 jobs postings were recently featured on the website/App in an effort that he described as “the first Construction Exchange Group in the country to do something like this.”

“Right now, it’s being advertised ‘word of mouth,’ with our ‘main efforts centering on Human Resource Directors and Career, Trade and Job Fairs.’  And we’re ‘also targeting’ high school students,” he said. “‘Their reaction has been positive’ and their Teachers ‘are now beginning to understand too that the Construction Industry and the Trades are an option’ (when it comes to good-paying jobs and careers).”

“The ‘biggest problem’ we see is the ‘stigma’ that associated with working in the Construction Industry that ‘many people have,’” he continued.  “That’s ‘why we need to make them aware of the many jobs that there are in the industry.’  ‘In the end, they’ve been very receptive.’”

McConnell showed WNYLaborToday.com a 40-seat classroom housed with CONEX’s William Street Headquarters where the organization’s Education Committee can provide a variety of speakers to interested parties and groups, including those who can address the need to replenish the local Construction Industry with younger Workers.

“There are ‘more jobs than just those out in the field and there are internship and shadowing opportunities with our Members too,’” McConnell said.  “What we’re doing is ‘beginning to excite’ High School Guidance Counselors.”

Right now, CONEX is publicizing its free offerings through a variety of Social Media Outlets, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.  “You can download the App or visit the website ‘and it’s a great way for our Members to grow their businesses too,’” McConnell said.

CONEX’s involvement and support of the Western New York Construction Industry also includes its yearly support of Western New York Construction Career Days, held at the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 17’s sprawling 400-acre Training Center in Lakeview, where 1,000 High School Students from across the region are introduced to a career in the Unionized Construction Trades and provided with a hands-on opportunity to operate a variety of machinery under the watchful eyes of Retired Union Tradesmen.

McConnell tells WNYLaborToday.com CONEX plans to have a table set up at this year’s Western New York Construction Career Days at IUOE Local 17 in October (2nd and 3rd) to make those high school students in attendance aware of the website and App.

“This really is such a ‘great opportunity’ for students, ‘even for the ones who may not be looking to start a career in the Skilled Trades,’” he said. “Our member companies ‘are looking to fill office roles as well, accounting, HR, clerical (and more), so this is a tool everyone can use!’”

“‘We’re looking for ‘big things and we have high expectations,’” MLP Plumbing & Mechanical’s Muskopf tells WNYLaborToday.com. “‘Nate ‘will point them in the right direction.’”

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Those interested in the CONEX website can access it directly at: https://careers.conexbuff.com.  The CONEX App is available for download in any of the App Stores.  It can also be found here: https://careers.conexbuff.com/.   CONEX Workforce Coordinator Nate McConnell can be contacted at 716-874-3435 or via e-mail at: NMcConnell@conexbuff.com