ICPI Interlock Design Issue 3 2019

3 Last year, paver sales were estimated at around 750 million sf with over 6% of paver sales being suitable for PICP applications and almost 10% of sales was paving slabs. While sales have been restored to pre-recession levels, the industry is facing two shortages, one that can be impacted and the other cannot: i.e. contractor labor shortages and increased rainfall which equals fewer work days. Since the start of 2019, labor shortages are being aggressively addressed in three ways by ICPI. First Bootcamp training programs provide training for novice installers to see who might be interested in moving into paver installation. Seven of these have been held with approximately 40 participants. A second program aims at delivering instruction to landscape instructors in colleges and universities. Instruction includes a free license to use ICPI installer certification instructional materials in classrooms. ICPI classes have engaged 49 instructors from 43 U.S. and Canadian post-secondary colleges in licenses. If interested, contact ICPI. Finally, a significant social media campaign will soon be launched toward high school students. The message extolls the benefits of a hardscaping career and how to enter it. Benefits include working outside, seeing projects built from start to completion (with associated bragging rights), and eventually owning a hardscaping company. The message of self-sufficiency is particularly salient to the rising workforce. A potential career path with ICPI training is presented here . Where will we be ten years from now? Sales around 1.5 billion sf? Another 5,000 folks in the workforce with many owning hardscaping companies? Commercial/municipal sales at 35%? The basic ingredients to help ensure a bigger future are taking shape so this future is more than likely. In the meantime, let’s hope it doesn’t rain quite so much.