September 16-20 marks the second celebration of Construction Appreciation Week, a nationwide event designed to recognize the industry’s workforce and raise awareness about the many career opportunities available in construction.

Construction Appreciation Week was created by I Build America, a national movement backed by the construction industry. The movement aims to change the perception of construction, instilling pride in the industry’s skilled workforce and inspiring the next generation to consider careers in construction.

“Construction positively impacts the lives of Americans every day, from the buildings we work in, to the hospitals where we receive health care to the roads we travel on and the homes we live in,” said Susanna Jakubik, marketing manager for I Build America. “It’s only fitting that a week be set aside to celebrate and recognize the millions of men and women who have chosen construction as their career path and how this work creates a wide variety of jobs across the United States.”

According to the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), a leading association for the construction industry and an I Build America partner, the construction industry has more than 680,000 employers with seven million employees and creates $1.3 trillion worth of structures each year.

Locally, Miller Bros. Const., Inc. will celebrate throughout the week. The company has appreciation activities planned for its employees and will showcase special “I Build America” flags at various job sites.

“A lot of people have misconceptions about working in construction. They see it as a dirty job that doesn’t take a lot of skill—something for people who can’t find any other work. We know first-hand that’s far from the truth,” said Brad Miller, president of Miller Bros. Const., Inc. “Whether it’s training for safety, project management software or high-tech equipment, we invest a lot of time building our employees’ skills. That holds true for most construction companies.”

Showing appreciation to the current workforce is an important part of the week, but so is recruitment. “Like a lot of industries, we’re facing a labor shortage. Our industry has a lot of opportunity. These jobs pay well and provide room to advance and grow. This week is one of the ways we’re working to get that word out,” said Miller.

Contractors and the public are encouraged to showcase their activities on social media using the hashtag #ThanksForBuilding. I Build America also has several contests available for construction professionals and the general public. Find out more at constructionappreciationweek.com/contests/.

Learn more about employment opportunities available with Miller Bros. Const., Inc. To learn more about how to get started in a career in construction or Construction Appreciation Week, visit ibuildamerica.com.