Bechtel Corporation
06/19/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/19/2026 16:04
Bechtel Tackles Skilled Labor Shortage with ‘Camp Build It,’ Inspiring Next Generation of Builders in Ohio
June 19, 2026
Bechtel Tackles Skilled Labor Shortage with 'Camp Build It,' Inspiring Next Generation of Builders in Ohio
Press Contacts
Brad Bucher Media Contact
Reston, VA
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Hands-on camp for high school girls expands awareness of construction careers and builds on Bechtel's workforce development efforts in Ohio
Bechtel recently hosted Camp Build It, a free, multi-day construction camp at the Knox County Career Center that brought together high school girls ages 14-18 from across the region for hands-on training in welding, pipefitting, electrical, and carpentry, along with mentorship from Bechtel craft professionals, helping expand awareness of opportunities in the construction industry.
While women represent a significant portion of the U.S. workforce, they remain underrepresented in construction roles, accounting for roughly 10 percent of the industry. At Bechtel, women make up nearly 30 percent of the company's U.S. workforce, reflecting a continued focus on expanding access and opportunity. Programs like Camp Build It are designed to help address that gap by providing earlier exposure to the trades and clearer visibility into construction career pathways. For Bechtel, the camp reflects a broader effort to expand access, build awareness of construction careers, and help address workforce needs across the industry.
"Programs like Camp Build It are about building early interest and exposure, so more young women can see themselves in the trades and better understand the opportunities available in construction," said Chris Bresson, Project Director, Bechtel. "Expanding that exposure is important to strengthening the future workforce while supporting the communities where we live and work."
Building skills and confidence at Camp Build It Ohio.
Throughout the week, students gained practical experience in a safe, supportive environment using industry-standard equipment and personal protective gear provided by Bechtel. Campers also connected with women working in construction, hearing firsthand about career paths and opportunities in the industry.
The camp concluded with a tour of a large-scale construction project in the region, where participants saw active work sites firsthand and connected with local trade and union representatives to learn more about career pathways after high school.
Camp Build It is part of Bechtel's broader effort to expand awareness of construction careers and help address workforce needs and is one of many initiatives in Ohio and across the country.
Bechtel's work in Ohio builds on the company's long history of delivering projects with purpose across the state. Most recently, Bechtel completed a low-carbon energy facility in Carroll County, where the team supported a new construction trade curriculum with Southern Local Schools and worked with the community to strengthen resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hear from Catherine Hunt Ryan, President of Bechtel's Manufacturing & Technology business, on the importance of women in construction and building the next generation of talent, at Bechtel.com.
About Bechtel
Bechtel is a trusted engineering, construction and project management partner to industry and government. Differentiated by the quality of our people and our relentless drive to deliver the most successful outcomes, we align our capabilities to our customers' objectives to create a lasting positive impact. Since 1898, we have helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents that have created jobs, grown economies, improved the resiliency of the world's infrastructure, increased access to energy, resources, and vital services, and made the world a safer, cleaner place.
Bechtel serves the Energy; Infrastructure; Manufacturing & Technology; Mining & Metals; and Nuclear, Security & Environmental markets. Our services span from initial planning and investment, through start-up and operations. https://www.bechtel.com
Reston, VA
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Bechtel Corporation published this content on June 19, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 19, 2026 at 22:04 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]