Aalayha Traub

Tell us about your background. 

I was born in Sioux Falls South Dakota and moved to Minnesota where I attended the University of Minnesota to double majora in Architecture and Construction Management. I have worked in the Construction Industry doing Virtual Design in Construction for the past 5 years, during which time I also put a great effort into DE&I efforts and initiatives and community engagement. For the past two years I have been an instructor at the University of Minnesota in the Construction Management program teaching Building Information Modeling.

Share about your work. 

I currently am the VDC (Virtual Design in Construction) Manager at Knutson where my team and I lead and implement technology applications and solutions to our project teams and owners. We work to educate both internally and externally on the benefits and savings of technology in the construction industry and well as partnering and pushing schools and programs to educate students more on the opportunities within construction including but not limited to construction and technology positions and field positions. 

What are some of the challenges of attracting people, especially youth people, to the construction industry? 

One big issue is the lack of knowledge on the number of positions within the industry outside of being a laborer or field position. However, a career in construction and field specifically provides great stability as well as the long-term career plan that is laid out for many of those positions but not advertised. There has been a history of the people working in the construction industry only finding interest because of someone in the family doing it before them. If we can change the narrative that you had to grow up in a home where someone did construction or you were exposed to it early, and instead that anybody can learn and be supported to create a long-term career that would be a great opportunity for greater attraction to the industry.  

Where do you see the most opportunities for people, especially youth people, interesting in starting a career in the construction industry? 

With my role specifically, I think it is important that we start to consider and communicate the opportunities to apply new and upcoming technologies in the industry which is a big sell for the younger generations who likely have a great technological skillset already. Opening the door for them to bring skills they already have or have an interest in learning and finding how it can be applied to construction rather than how we can find something in construction that fits them is a great mindset shift for youth that makes them feel more in control of their career overall.