Demolition industry continues to break down barriers

Infrastructure investment

To assuage both challenges – shrinking backlogs and, as a result, shrinking employment – NDA is pushing for federal infrastructure investment.

“I think infrastructure is going to be huge,” Godek says. “If that comes through and we get more stimulus money and people are willing to put more money into building and into development, that’s going to be a boon to our business. We support Phase 4 infrastructure investment.”

NDA, through its digital Grassroots Action Center, has urged its members and the industry as a whole to contact their elected officials in support of the demolition industry’s legislative priorities, including several comprehensive infrastructure proposals; expanded access to Paycheck Protection Program funds; employer COVID-related liability protections and more.

When prospecting a potential infrastructure bill, the good news is both Democrats and Republicans alike acknowledge that federal infrastructure investment is necessary. 

“Both [political parties] have pledged support of infrastructure,” Godek says. “You’re not dealing with ‘hey, I want infrastructure’ and ‘hey, I don’t.’ They both want to do it.”

The bad news, however, is even though Democrats and Republicans agree on infrastructure funding, the gap between how each party envisions a potential bill seems to be a bridge too far.

“The heat has to turn down,” Lambert says of the current state of affairs in Washington. “Both parties agree, in theory, on infrastructure, but the rhetoric is so heightened right now that it makes the small differences that much bigger. If there’s any way we can tone down the rhetoric, I think there’s a greater chance of success.”

Even if the political temperature were to cool in Washington, Godek isn’t convinced that infrastructure remains high enough of a priority for either political party to expect a bill any time in the near future.

“I think there’s a lot kicking infrastructure in the teeth right now,” Godek says. “There are just so many other places where the economy is not thriving, and the fact that travel is down right now – that’s what we need our infrastructure to support. Part of the problem is there’s just less money to go around with all of the stimulus that’s been put out there.”

Looking for labor

While a shortage of available and talented labor certainly isn’t a new problem for the industry, it remains a persistent challenge as contractors turn their eyes toward the next generation entering the workforce.

“Workforce development has been a big problem for our industry in the last 10 years, and it’s just becoming more and more prevalent,” Godek says. “How do we get Generation Z working for us? How do we get them out from behind a computer or PlayStation and get them out into the field?”

Godek believes part of the disconnect is Generation Z is looking for stability while the demolition industry – and construction industry as a whole – has largely had its ups and downs.

“As an industry, we’ve always had this pariah of not being stable,” Godek says. “Back when I started in construction, layoffs were part of the business. Fifteen years later when I had my own business, when I had to lay a guy off, they couldn’t believe it was happening. I think changing that look or feel for what we do is going to be a big part of attracting the next generation of workers.”

Part of changing that look or feel is the industry amplifying its voice to share its message with the next generation of job seekers.

“We’re really a cogent business, we have a big picture, we’re looking down the road and we’re playing the long ball,” Godek says. “We’re not here to make a few bucks today, take a shingle down and go put a shingle up somewhere else. We’re really in it for the long haul.”

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