Building Skills from the Ground Up: Solving the U.S. Construction Workforce Crisis

The U.S. construction industry is facing a crisis that threatens billions in infrastructure projects — and it's not just about labor shortages. It's about skills gaps, diversity challenges, and preparing for an AI-driven future.

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Dr. Vijayeta Malla, a Program/Project Controls Professional with 17+ years of experience managing $47B+ infrastructure programs including the Ontario Line Subway and Port of Oakland projects. As PMI's Global Construction Ambassador and a pioneer in AI-enabled project controls, Dr. Malla brings a unique perspective bridging experience across India, Canada, and the USA.

In this episode, we dive deep into:

🏗️ The Real Crisis — What the workforce shortage actually looks like on billion-dollar mega-projects and why it should keep every PM up at night

🤖 The Technology Paradox — How AI, BIM, and advanced tools can help solve the crisis (or make it worse), and what "building skills from the ground up" means in 2026

👷‍♀️ The Diversity Solution — Why tradeswomen are leaving construction, and how addressing inclusion isn't just about fairness — it's about survival

⚡ Practical Actions TODAY — What project managers can do right now to address understaffed teams, skills gaps, and high turnover

🔮 The Future Vision — What success looks like 5-10 years from now and the one thing every PM needs to understand about this crisis

Dr. Malla's research has been cited 146+ times, and she's presented at major conferences including AACE, ASC, and PMI Global Summit. Her insights on women in construction, AI applications in AEC, and creating inclusive workplaces are transforming how the industry thinks about its future.

Whether you're managing a small renovation or overseeing billion-dollar infrastructure programs, this conversation will change how you think about workforce challenges and your role in solving them.

#ProjectManagement #Construction #WorkforceDevelopment #AI #Diversity #TheEverydayPM #Infrastructure #PMI #AACE