National Center for Construction Education and Research

But before I tell any more about her background, today I have Jennifer Wilkerson.

She is the VP of Innovation and Advancement with the National Center for Construction Education and Research.

Hey, Jennifer, how are you?

I'm doing great, Ryan.

[laughs]

And I think it's just-- Y-you're going to bring some interesting perspectives that are very, based off your background, very human-focused.

So before we dive in, just tell a little bit about, um, kinda how, how you got started in your career and, and kinda what led you to this path with the, uh, National Center for Construction Education and Research.

Absolutely, sure.

Good idea.

NCCER stands for the National Center for Construction Education and Research.

It is essentially the gold standard universally recognized playbook and training curriculum for the construction industry in the United States.

Right.

Recent evidence points to pressure, but not a uniform shortage across all construction.

In a survey conducted in July and August 2026 by the Associated General Contractors of America and the National Center for Construction Education and Research, 42% of responding firms said shortages among their own workers or subcontractors had delayed projects.

At the same time, 37% reported reducing their headcount by at least 5% over the preceding year, while 34% reported an increase of that size.

Both conditions can coexist when demand differs by location, specialty, and project type.