Ryan talked about the primary challenges facing the industry from the perspective of construction laborers, including an aging workforce, a shortage of skilled workers, worker health and safety on the job and the generally "ill perceived" nature of the industry.

Ryan also explained some of the programs Wisconsin Laborers have developed to deal with serious trends in the industry, including the implementation of various training, apprenticeship and recruitment programs.

Ryan reminded the audience that while the Laborers are serious about dealing with trends that threaten the stability of the industry, programs alone are not the answer.

"Retention of workers in the construction industry is not helped by the seasonal, non-permanent, and transient nature of employment, or the unsafe working conditions," Ryan said. "Nor is retention helped by the fact that average wages in construction have fallen by about 25 percent since 1973."

Ryan also noted that as of 1995 nearly 60 percent of all construction employers did not offer their workers any private health insurance, while nearly 70 percent did not offer any pension benefit.

"Without question, cooperation, creativity and commitment are all essential ingredients for dealing with these issues and trends as we enter the new millennium," Ryan said. "But so too, is a back to basics strategy that incorporates the training workers need to get the job done and the wages and benefits they deserve for doing the job right."