Three National Groups Announce Partnership to Highlight Innovative Engineering, Public Works Projects

‘Infrastructure Works—An Engineering and Public Works Roadshow’ will spotlight visionary projects tackling America’s pressing challenges

WASHINGTON — The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), American Public Works Association (APWA), and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) today announced a nationwide partnership and awareness effort to highlight the meaningful, transformational work of engineers and public works professionals.

America’s engineers and public works professionals are responsible for addressing some of society’s most pressing challenges. Over the coming months, Infrastructure Works—An Engineering and Public Works Roadshow will focus the public’s attention on industry projects that improve climate resiliency, ensure the delivery of clean air and water, promote energy efficiency, and open access to mobility.

The partnership comes at a critical time. According to the ACEC Research Institute, the bipartisan infrastructure bill Congress passed earlier this year is expected to add more than 82,000 full-and part-time jobs in engineering, public works, and design services over the next five years. Finding the professionals to fill these roles is critical now at a time when workforce shortages are already threatening the timely and successful completion of essential construction and design projects across the nation.

The importance of filling the talent pipeline for engineering and public works jobs has been underscored by the Biden Administration’s announced summer-long “Talent Pipeline Challenge.” The campaign will help amplify this effort with students and future employees by showcasing the dynamic projects engineering and public works professionals design across the country. 

“This partnership brings together three leading organizations representing the engineering and design community and the clients they serve,” said ACEC President and CEO Linda Bauer Darr. “This campaign will focus public attention on the fact that engineering is essential to our modern society and demonstrate why policymakers and clients should continue to invest in engineering solutions and students should plan to join the ranks of the nation’s best problem solvers…because they are needed now more than ever.”

“We have the opportunity to move this nation’s infrastructure forward in a positive way that benefits communities for generations to come,” said APWA CEO Scott D. Grayson, CAE, “but we need to make sure generations of workers are available to deliver on the promise of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“Working in tandem with ASCE and ACEC to keep public officials’ focus on workforce development, we will showcase excellent public works, engineering and design projects that are unfolding before our eyes so we can capture the imagination of future workers who will dream bigger dreams and make our neighborhoods more resilient.”

“The future of engineering is unbounded,” said Tom Smith, ASCE executive director, “and the design profession is front and center in solving the challenges of the day and building a brighter future for communities. This partnership will showcase future-ready engineering projects and innovation, and introduce the public, and particularly our young citizens, to the wonder of engineered systems and infrastructure, as well as the benefits of a creative and rewarding career in engineering and design.”   

Without more engineers and public works professionals, projects vital for our communities and the economy could be delayed. A recent ACEC Research Institute survey found two-thirds of ACEC member firms expect to increase their backlog of projects over the next year. Right now, the median backlog stands at 11 months with 49% of respondents reporting a backlog of one year or more. 

This industry-wide partnership brings many voices to the table to tackle the workforce shortage. ACEC represents more than 5,000 of America’s engineering firms, ASCE represents more than 150,000 members of the civil engineering profession in 177 countries, and APWA represents more than 30,000 public works professionals and is the only organization to represent all facets of public works.

In the coming months, the partnership will hold events across the country that highlight projects that showcase the essential value that engineering and public works delivers for our communities and underline the need to leverage the historic investment opportunity of IIJA and the expansion of workforce opportunities for the next generation of America’s engineers and public works professionals.