As we recognized National Infrastructure Week (May 14) around the country, we must take the opportunity to encourage both the work and the workers that will rebuild America.
We must start robustly investing in our aging bridges, roads, rails, ports, airports, electric grid, water pipes, broadband network and more. Not only is it critical for our national security, but it also will create high-skilled, high-wage jobs and help power our economy for generations to come. But in the next five years, there will be 68 percent more job openings in infrastructure-related fields than there are people training to fill them, according to the U.S. Department of Education. It’s clear we need to change that trend by preparing more people now.