Construction Jobs for ALL!

Sometimes I feel like I really have to explain things to people at the utmost basic level…which is unfortunate.  I won’t pretend to have always been this knowledgable either.  I owe a lot of it to the man I married because he was an absolute news junkie and the other part to Big Sister Gorgeous One because I wanted to be able to keep up and contribute in conversations.

But some things really are common sense.

When President Obama announced his jobs bill and put emphasis on infrastructure, I heard people around the country calling in to Joe Madison to complain about construction jobs.  It was a very “y’all ain’t never satisfied” moment.  Black people said only white people get construction jobs.  White people said only Black people get construction jobs.  And our college educated (yet still unemployed) peers said that they don’t get any construction jobs.  Well I’m going to ignore those first two arguments because when I drive through construction in Chicago AND in Tulsa I see the rainbow out there wearing orange vests.  But I have a friend who has spent her entire professional career in construction so I have some insight on how the industry works and I want to share some cold, hard truths with you about a jobs bill that puts emphasis on infrastructure.

With the addition of funds comes the addition of approved projects.  With the approval of said projects comes the hiring of construction workers. Still waiting on this to apply to you?  Here it comes…

Human resource hires employees….in EVERY company.  More employees would also require additional payroll personnel…oh and training.  Did I tell y’all about the co-worker I had who quit and went to live on a construction site in North Dakota because she was offered a job in her field of education?  SAFETY!

I’d hate to be a small business owner with a cafe, restaurant, or lunch truck that could feed those construction workers. insert sarcasm here As a matter of fact, when a construction job is finished there is a wrap party and the company orders food for everyone and they celebrate.  I’ve seen them order as much as 100 pounds of meat from a LOCAL barbecue establishment to a full on holiday meal of roast turkey with dressing and all the fixings.

So let’s recap…..with the addition of jobs in infrastructure we have jobs in human resources, payroll, accounting, and safety, as well as patronage of local businesses (who according to the “trickle down theory” will go on to hire others to meet the increased demand).  So both sides win.

Unfortunately not eveyone sees common sense as so common.

Oh and by the way…my friend with the long career in construction….is an accountant.  See, construction jobs for EVERYBODY!

Thanks for visiting Diva (in Demand).  My blog escapades have followed me across 4 states, 3 jobs, a business venture, and a new husband. There are no mini divas yet but I have loads of nieces and nephews to slobber and wipe their dirty hands on me. I am an amateur pastry chef, certified cake decorator, and seasoned home cook who knows how to pair French cuiseine with fine wine, collard greens and cornbread. You'll find a little bit of everything around here.....where I take talking to myself to a whole new level.