The construction industry has spent years discussing the shortage of field engineers. But there is another challenge we need to address: construction readiness.

As companies compete for talent, one important question remains:

How do we know whether an intern or new graduate is prepared for construction practice?

I’m not talking about advanced engineering calculations. I’m talking about the fundamentals.

Can they:

– Read and interpret construction drawings?
– Navigate project specifications?
– Perform a basic quantity takeoff?
– Connect quantities to construction costs?
– Sequence construction activities?
– Prepare RFIs and submittals?
– Identify common construction means and methods?

These aren’t questions to eliminate candidates. They’re foundational checks that help identify where new hires are ready, and where they need support.

That’s why we developed the Construction Practice Readiness Index.

The index doesn’t measure every construction competency. Instead, it measures what comes first: Construction Materials and Methods, the foundation for estimating, scheduling, project controls, field engineering, and construction leadership.

Before someone can plan, estimate, schedule, or manage construction work, they must first understand how the work is actually built.

The goal isn’t to “pass” or “fail” students. It’s to identify the foundational knowledge they already possess and the areas where additional development is needed.

Closing the workforce gap isn’t only about recruiting more graduates.

It’s about ensuring every graduate has the construction foundation needed to succeed on the jobsite.

Hiring managers, project engineers, superintendents, and construction educators: What foundational construction knowledge do you expect every intern or new graduate to have before stepping onto a jobsite?