Labor Force Issues and Workforce Development in Infrastructure Construction

Shant Boyajian discussed “Labor Force Issues and Workforce Development in Infrastructure Construction” as part of Cornell Program in Infrastructure Policy’s (CPIP) Thought Leaders in Infrastructure video series. During this interview, Shant noted how the implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has intensified the competition for labor. As such, more emphasis on workforce developments by federal agencies, private contractors, and infrastructure owners is needed to meet the demand.

Shant is one of the nation’s leading authorities on the policy issues behind infrastructure strategy, having previously served as senior counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, where he led the development of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which provided more than $300 billion in funding for surface transportation programs. Prior to his position in the Senate, Shant served as counsel to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit for the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where he helped negotiate and draft the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) Act – the surface transportation authorization bill for fiscal years 2013 and 2014.

The Cornell Program in Infrastructure Policy (CPIP) advances knowledge that improves the delivery, maintenance, operation and technological sophistication of physical, social and digital infrastructure.