October is Careers in Construction Month, and National Manufacturing Day is October 4th. County Materials supports these efforts to break down the barriers of myth and misconception surrounding manufacturing and construction careers. As the construction and manufacturing industries continue to grow, so do opportunities for rewarding careers. We sat down with our CEO, Brad Schmidgall, as he offered advice (and a refreshing reality check) to those considering a career in the trades of tomorrow.
Manufacturing is expected to see an average of 933,000 job openings each year until 2032. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Q: What is a common misconception you hear about manufacturing jobs?
BRAD: That it is just manual labor. Although there are some positions that still require manual labor, modern concrete manufacturing processes are often automated, and many jobs require operating and maintaining modern, high-tech machinery.
Q: What should people look for in a company when starting a manufacturing or construction career?
BRAD: Find a company with a vision for growth and a record of investing in its people and facilities. These kinds of companies will be the ones that will win the future. The companies that don’t invest in their people and their facilities will eventually go away.
Q: What do you say to anyone looking for a successful career? A young person starting out or someone looking for a change?
BRAD: I think success comes at the intersection of the following three factors. What are you uniquely good at? What do you enjoy doing? What can you get paid for doing? If you can find a career or occupation that checks all these boxes, you’ll have a successful career.
Employees who feel they can acquire necessary skills that are important for the future are 2.7 times less likely to leave their organization in the next 12 months. Deloitte’s Workforce Experience Research Study
Q: What is the formula for the growth and success of County Materials?
BRAD: The only way to build a truly successful company is to create an environment where people and performance are in harmony. A company cannot be financially successful without an empowered workforce who are using their God-given talents to drive it forward. And a company cannot properly care for, empower and build a bright future for its employees without healthy profitability. Any company that tries to care for its people without strong financial performance (or vice versa) simply can’t do it. My job is to make sure our company is keeping both people and performance in harmony.
With the landscape of construction and manufacturing moving into a more modern and specialized workforce, County Materials continues to recruit and develop team members with advanced technical, problem-solving, and creative skill sets. Manufacturing and construction jobs continue to expand and grow with the needs of an expanding industry. Today's trade careers may look a bit different than they did in the past, but County Materials is staying on top of change. We’re ready to meet the future head-on and maintain our position as an industry leader in concrete manufacturing. The best way forward — is forward.
BRAD: Our ownership and leadership put a high premium on growth, and as the company expands, we will be looking for those who want to grow with it. I love seeing our team members’ careers grow and prosper.
If you or someone you know is interested in a career with a strong future, take a look at our openings at County Materials. We offer on-the-job skills training and development opportunities to grow in our company. Build your future with us and make a career in concrete manufacturing. Apply online!