Pathways to Craft Workforce Success

The construction industry continues to face a critical shortage of skilled craft professionals, threatening project delivery, infrastructure development, and long-term industry growth. To identify effective solutions, CII Research Team 436 (RT-436) examined ten case studies from contractors, owners, and a labor union that exemplify successful strategies for recruiting, developing, engaging, and retaining the craft workforce. This implementation resource distills the lessons and leading practices from these organizations into actionable guidance for industry leaders. The case studies highlight a range of innovative approaches—including mental health and well-being programs, employee recognition initiatives, mobile training centers, virtual reality–based learning, structured talent reviews, and workforce engagement systems. Collectively, the findings demonstrate that embedding workforce development into core business operations strengthens workforce capability, improves engagement and retention, enhances training effectiveness, and better aligns craft talent with project needs.