A Study of Cal Poly Students\u27 Preferred Career Path: A Focus on Alumni

The construction industry is a fragile system with an intricate mix of field and office – labor and management. Theses two branches are critical to keeping any project running smoothly. However, the industry is noticeably changing and this fragile structure is deteriorating. Field positions are getting tougher and tougher to fill for most companies in the construction industry. Without skilled field employees, the companies are losing one of the two most important aspects of construction. Without field employees, office employees may be tasked with picking up additional duties beyond their expertise – further advancing their stress levels and sacrificing quality with their original office duties. Without skilled field employees, general contractors may have to look to subcontractors more often – which may not fit within the company’s overall business plan. As we have seen, the labor shortage is a large issue going forward. This report presents an analysis of why Cal Poly graduates choose the office route over the field using survey data