QUALITY WORKFORCE
NSSGA POSITION:
NSSGA is leading the way in the development of tools that will build a quality workforce for our membership and the entire industry network in the over 10,000 construction aggregate operations nationwide. NSSGA supports increased investment in the nation’s transportation infrastructure and industry-led safety, health
and training programs, which are paramount to building, maintaining and the continued growth of a quality workforce. NSSGA also believes that new laws and regulations governing the aggregates industry should be based on sound scientific principles lest they have a negative impact on the industry workforce.
BACKGROUND:
Skilled employees are essential for the production of aggregates. NSSGA’s membership and their employees produce 90 percent of the crushed stone and 70 percent of the sand and gravel consumed annually in the U.S. The industry’s products are used primarily in roads and highways, residential construction, commercial construction and public works projects such as airports, water treatment plants and schools, etc. They are critical to the manufacture of glass, paint, paper, pharmaceuticals, plastics, cosmetics, chewing gum, household cleaners and many other consumer goods. The industry’s natural materials and the employees who mine them are essential for the safety, security and quality of life for all Americans.
Despite the impressive impact on the economy and on everyday lives, as
well as a presence in 70 percent of the nation’s counties, the crushed stone, sand and gravel industry experiences shortages of skilled workers. The situation is exacerbated by an aging workforce, making recruitment and retention of quality employees increasingly difficult. In fact, employers consistently rank the difficulties of finding and retaining a qualified workforce as among their top human resources concerns.
TALKING POINTS:
- The approximately 117,000 men and women who work in this country’s crushed stone, sand and gravel operations have a tremendous impact on the industry and in every American’s life.
- Without an adequate workforce the aggregates – a basic resource essential to a strong economy – cannot be domestically produced.
- NSSGA believes that a quality workforce is crucial to the continued growth of the industry; however, the industry is experiencing a critical shortage of skilled workers.
- NSSGA applauds legislative efforts supporting accredited petroleum and mining schools and applied geology and geophysics schools essential to produce the human capital necessary for national economic, energy and minerals security.
- Federal policy in the area of employee safety and health should continue to recognize and support industry-led safety and health training, such as the MSHA Part 46 Safety Training program.
- Federal policy in the area of employee job training should support investments in industry-led cross-training programs so that employees can achieve and utilize multiple skills.
- Federal policy in the area of permitting should support a streamlined approach in order to more efficiently process the approval of surface mining operations and construction projects. This will help in efforts to recruit and retain a quality workforce.
- Federal laws and regulations that impact the aggregates industry should be based on sound scientific industry-supported principles. The high cost of implementing unwanted federal laws and regulations affects employees most directly when companies must downsize in order to pay for compliance.
Updated: November 2008
