CAGC President & CEO Dave Simpson on 2024: Cause for Optimism Despite Industry Challenges

GroundBreak Carolinas is pleased to share thoughts and insights from key leaders in the construction industry from North Carolina and South Carolina. Dave Simpson, President & CEO of Carolinas AGC (CAGC), shares his thoughts as we enter 2024:

What is your outlook on the construction industry for 2024?

Strong – if the Fed starts reducing interest rates.

What are you most excited about?

There is a lot of work out there, especially in the public sector, and the future looks exciting in the Carolinas. Very exciting – for highway-heavy, building and utility construction.

What concerns you the most about the upcoming year?

Workforce shortage. There is a lot of public money in North and South Carolina, and a lot of jobs, and we need to continue trying to do a better job of attracting strong talent to help fill the thousands of jobs that exist now for well-paying and exciting careers. Carolinas AGC is focusing on getting that message out in both states via our Be Pro Be Proud trucks that demonstrate how exciting and rewarding construction is. We are also ramping up our education and training efforts, and concentrating on getting more folks, including women and minorities, into the construction industry. We are doing this through our Construction Boot Camps, Construction Business Academies, and our work with the community colleges in North and South Carolina, as well as K-12 schools. Our Young Leaders Program, with nearly 300 members strong, also is helping in this team effort.