From Dirty Jobs to Dignified Careers: Reimagining Construction Work with Ryan Englin, CEO at Core Matters

The SiteVisit

The SiteVisit
From Dirty Jobs to Dignified Careers: Reimagining Construction Work with Ryan Englin, CEO at Core Matters
May 13, 2025 Season 6 Episode 178
James Faulkner

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The mental health crisis sweeping through construction has reached alarming proportions, with suicide rates among workers soaring to five times the national average. But what's driving this crisis, and why aren't more industry leaders talking about it?

Ryan Englin, a 15-year veteran consultant and author of "Hire Better People Faster," brings powerful insights into the hidden struggle of construction workers and the leadership failures that perpetuate it. After growing up with a blue-collar father but choosing a different path himself, Ryan offers a unique insider-outsider perspective on what's really happening on job sites across America.

"People don't leave jobs; people leave people," Ryan explains, challenging the common industry complaint that "nobody wants to work anymore." He highlights how construction companies frequently overlook fundamental human needs – from basic respect to social connection – that could transform their workforce challenges. 

Beyond addressing mental health, the discussion dives into provocative territory about how the construction industry has failed to adapt to the changing workforce landscape. While knowledge-economy jobs evolved to offer remote work, flexibility, and clear advancement paths, many construction companies still operate on outdated models that fail to demonstrate they value their people. Ryan offers actionable strategies for construction leaders to create workplaces where people not only want to work but want to stay.

Whether you're a construction business owner struggling with retention, a field leader trying to build a stronger team, or simply interested in the future of the industry that builds our world, this conversation will challenge your assumptions and offer fresh perspectives on making construction careers both successful and sustainable. Listen now to discover how caring about your people might be the most profitable business strategy you're not yet implementing.

PODCAST INFO:
the Site Visit Website: https://www.sitemaxsystems.com/podcast
the Site Visit on Buzzsprout: https://thesitevisit.buzzsprout.com/269424
the Site Visit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-site-visit/id1456494446
the Site Visit on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5cp4qJE5ExZmO3EwldN1HH

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