#11 The Focus of Millennials & Gen Z with their Careers in Construction feat. Rob Ellis (MySafeWork)

Build Our Future Podcast

Despite the many benefits that come with working in construction, it is increasingly difficult to get young people to enter the industry. Rob Ellis, today’s guest, joins us to talk about why this is the case, along with safety, and the industry more generally. As the President of MySafeWork, a non-profit that prevents vulnerable workers from getting injured or losing their lives, Rob understands the importance of having the necessary measures in place to keep employees safe. After the tragic passing of his 18-year-old son, Rob saw the knowledge gap, where many young workers did not have the skills or know which questions to ask to ensure they had safe working experiences. We begin the show by learning more about this difficult event in Rob's life as well as MySafeWork's mission. We then discuss how the idea of work has changed over time. While money used to be a primary motivator, young people are increasingly purpose-driven and want to have meaningful work that extends beyond financial gain. We talk about the difficulties in reconciling this unquantifiable desire with the highly quantitative construction industry. From there, Rob sheds light on how the insular nature of the construction industry influences its ability to attract talent. While tech tycoons are often public figures, construction leaders are generally limelight-averse. Throughout the conversation, Rob highlights the value of working in the construction sector. Not only are there incredible lessons to be learned but the camaraderie, he believes, is unrivaled. We round the show off with Rahul sharing some of the lessons he has learned as a business owner and hearing about what’s on the horizon for MySafeWork. Be sure to tune in today!