Reasons Why Eagles Structures Is Investing in Education

At Eagles Structures, we believe the future of the construction industry depends on more than labor alone — it depends on education, leadership, discipline, safety, workforce development, and long-term vision.

Our company is committed to building more than projects. We are committed to building people, careers, businesses, and future generations through structured education, mentorship, training systems, and professional development.

The decision to invest in a construction school and educational program is based on major industry, workforce, educational, and societal challenges currently affecting the United States and the world.

 

Construction Is One of the Most Complex Industries

Construction is a highly multidisciplinary industry that requires the integration of engineering, architecture, safety management, project coordination, finance, logistics, and skilled labor execution. Large construction projects can involve 10–20+ different specialized trades working simultaneously under strict timelines and budgets.

Key complexity factors include:

• Projects often involve 100–1,000+ individual tasks per phase

• Coordination between 6–10 major professional disciplines

• More than 70% of project delays are linked to coordination and communication breakdowns

• Over 30–40% of construction costs are influenced by rework, inefficiency, or planning errors

Despite this complexity, structured education pathways outside of trade apprenticeships remain limited, inconsistent, or inaccessible for many workers entering the industry.

 

Rising Construction Costs

Construction costs in the U.S. have increased significantly over the past decade due to inflation, labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, and inefficiencies in project execution.

Key indicators include:

• Construction input costs have increased approximately 30–45% over the past 5–10 years (varies by region and sector)

• Labor shortages are estimated to cost the industry over $10 billion annually in productivity losses

• Rework and poor coordination account for up to 30% of total construction costs globally

• Inefficient project management can reduce profit margins by 5–15% per project

Through education, Eagles Structures aims to reduce waste, improve planning accuracy, and promote more efficient construction practices that directly lower project costs.

 

High Failure Rate of Construction Companies

The construction industry has one of the highest business failure rates across all sectors.

• Approximately 60% of construction businesses fail within the first 5 years

• Around 80% fail within 10 years depending on market conditions and business size

• A significant portion of failures are linked to:

  • Poor financial management

  • Weak estimating and bidding systems

  • Lack of leadership structure

  • Limited operational planning and risk control

Companies with formal business systems and training are 2–3 times more likely to survive beyond 5 years compared to informal operations.

 

Educational System – High School Diploma

• Approximately 20–21% of adults in the United States are considered functionally illiterate or possess very low literacy skills, creating significant challenges in communication, comprehension, workforce readiness, and daily professional responsibilities.

• Around 50% of U.S. adults read below a 6th-grade reading level, affecting their ability to fully understand technical documents, contracts, safety procedures, educational materials, and complex workplace instructions.

• Approximately 85–90% of students in the United States successfully graduate from high school, with graduation rates varying based on economic conditions, geographic location, educational access, and demographic factors.

• Studies indicate that approximately 30–40% of high school graduates remain uncertain about their future career path, trade, college major, or long-term professional direction after completing secondary education.

• Approximately 8–12% of graduates directly enter the construction industry, pursuing careers in carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, HVAC, drywall, painting, welding, concrete, and general labor operations.

• Approximately 20% of adults in the United States struggle with basic literacy and writing proficiency, while many additional individuals continue facing difficulties with technical communication, reading comprehension, analytical thinking, and problem-solving capabilities within professional environments.

 

Construction Union & Apprenticeship System Challenges

• Some apprenticeship programs show extremely low completion outcomes, where large entry groups can result in only a small fraction successfully finishing the full training pathway.

• Across multiple apprenticeship systems, completion rates typically range from less than 50%, meaning a significant portion of participants do not complete certification requirements.

• Industry reports consistently identify skill gaps as a top 3 workforce challenge in construction, with many workers entering the field without fully developed technical, safety, or management skills.

• Apprenticeship programs often experience high dropout rates during the first 1–3 years, mainly due to financial pressure, lack of guidance, and limited structured career development.

• A large portion of workforce training still occurs informally on job sites, which can lead to inconsistent skill development and uneven training quality across projects and regions.

• Construction productivity growth has remained relatively flat over decades (around ~1% annually), often linked to workforce training inconsistencies and system inefficiencies.

• The industry continues to face a major skilled labor shortage, with estimates suggesting hundreds of thousands of additional workers are needed in the U.S. over the coming years.

• Construction remains one of the highest-risk industries, consistently ranking among the top sectors for workplace injuries and fatalities, often tied to training and safety gaps.

• Workforce aging trends show that approximately 1 in 4 skilled workers is expected to retire within the next decade, increasing pressure on training systems and labor supply.

• In some cases, even after completing apprenticeship programs and certifications, workers may still lack full readiness for independent field performance, leadership, or advanced operational responsibilities.

• In certain trade pathways, only 40–60% of participants complete certification requirements, highlighting ongoing retention and training challenges.

• The industry’s ongoing labor demand is projected to exceed 500,000 additional workers in the United States, reinforcing the need for stronger education and workforce development systems.

• These challenges highlight a structural gap between training systems and real-world construction demands, affecting workforce readiness, productivity, and long-term industry stability.

​

Major Global Issues That Better Education Could Help Improve

• Poverty & Financial Instability
  Lack of financial literacy, career training, and economic education contributes to persistent poverty cycles and limited upward mobility across generations.

• Mental Health Crisis
  Rising global rates of anxiety, depression, stress, and suicide highlight the need for stronger education in emotional intelligence, coping skills, and mental health awareness.

• Violence & Crime
  Many crime patterns are linked to limited opportunity, lack of mentorship, and weak educational access, increasing long-term social instability.

• Lack of Financial Literacy
  A large portion of the population enters adulthood without understanding budgeting, credit, taxes, debt, investing, or business systems, leading to long-term financial struggles.

• Workforce & Skill Shortages
  Many industries face labor shortages despite high population growth, largely due to gaps between education systems and real-world workforce skill requirements.

• Poor Physical Health & Obesity
  Limited education in nutrition, exercise, discipline, and preventative health contributes to rising obesity rates and chronic disease globally.

• Substance Abuse & Addiction
  Drug and alcohol addiction continue to increase in many regions, often linked to stress, lack of support systems, and limited preventative education.

• Racism, Discrimination & Social Division
  Lack of cultural education, historical awareness, and communication skills contributes to misunderstanding, inequality, and social fragmentation.

• Corruption & Ethical Failures
  Weak ethical education and accountability systems in leadership roles can contribute to corruption in government, business, and institutions.

• Environmental & Sustainability Problems
  Poor education on environmental responsibility contributes to pollution, waste mismanagement, and unsustainable resource consumption.

• Poor Leadership & Management
  Many organizations struggle due to insufficient leadership training, weak communication systems, and lack of operational knowledge.

• Educational Inequality
  Unequal access to quality education creates long-term gaps in opportunity, income, and professional development across different communities.

• Homelessness & Housing Challenges
  Economic instability, lack of workforce education, and limited financial planning skills contribute to growing housing insecurity in many regions.

• Family Instability & Lack of Guidance
  Limited access to mentorship, parenting education, and life skills training contributes to cycles of instability across generations.

• Lack of Purpose & Career Direction
  Many individuals enter adulthood without clear direction due to limited exposure to career pathways, trades, entrepreneurship, and personal development education.

 

College and universities

• Approximately 35–45% of college students change their major at least once, indicating that many students enter higher education without a fully defined long-term career direction. This often results in additional time, cost, and extended graduation timelines.

• Nearly 40% of students who begin a 4-year college program do not graduate within 6 years, meaning a significant portion invest substantial time and financial resources without completing a degree.

• Student loan debt in the United States has exceeded $1.7 trillion, making higher education one of the largest long-term financial burdens for younger generations and affecting financial stability well into adulthood.

• Approximately 60–65% of students complete a bachelor’s degree within 6 years, showing that a large percentage of students either take longer than expected or do not complete their academic program.

• Approximately 35–45% of college students report uncertainty about their long-term career goals, reflecting a gap between academic education and clear career pathway development.

 

Mental Health Crisis in Construction

• Construction workers experience some of the highest levels of occupational stress across all industries, driven by physically demanding work, tight deadlines, job insecurity, and high-risk environments.

• Approximately 65% of construction workers report job-related stress, reflecting the ongoing pressure associated with field performance and project demands.

• Around 70% report symptoms related to anxiety, stress, or depression, showing widespread mental health strain within the industry.

• Approximately 55% of workers experience burnout, often linked to long hours, physically intensive labor, and inconsistent work schedules.

• Around 60% report anxiety-related symptoms, which can impact focus, productivity, safety, and decision-making on the job.

• Approximately 45% report symptoms of depression, highlighting the emotional and psychological burden faced by many workers in the field.

• About 38% of construction workers have taken time off due to mental health-related needs, showing direct impact on workforce availability and productivity.

• Suicide rates in construction are estimated to be approximately 2 times higher than the national average, making it one of the most affected industries in this area.

• More than 5,000 construction workers are estimated to die by suicide each year, reflecting a severe and ongoing mental health crisis within the sector.

• Approximately 1 in 5 construction workers live with ongoing mental health challenges, indicating that mental health concerns are not isolated but widespread across the workforce.

Safety and Fatality Risks

• Construction remains one of the most hazardous industries in the world due to the combination of heavy equipment, elevated work, electrical systems, and constantly changing jobsite conditions.

• Construction accounts for over 50% of fatal fall-related accidents across U.S. industries, making falls the leading cause of death in the sector.

• Hundreds of workers die each year due to falls alone, highlighting ongoing challenges in fall protection, supervision, and safety enforcement.

• More than 1,000 construction workers die annually on job sites in the United States, reflecting the severity and scale of industry-wide safety risks.

Lack of Structured Education and Career Development

• Many workers enter the construction industry without formal education in key professional areas such as leadership, safety systems, estimating, project management, and business operations.

• As a result, a large portion of the workforce develops skills informally on the job, which can lead to inconsistent knowledge levels, uneven performance, and limited standardization across the industry.

• Without structured career pathways, many workers experience slow professional growth and limited access to advancement opportunities, even after years of field experience.

• A significant number of employees remain in entry-level or labor positions for long periods due to the lack of clear education pathways toward leadership, supervision, or business ownership roles.

• The absence of structured training in areas such as estimating, cost control, scheduling, and communication reduces overall project efficiency and long-term organizational stability.

     At Eagles Structures, we believe that education is one of the strongest forces that determines opportunity, stability, and long-term success. Today, there is a clear imbalance between those who have access to high-quality education and resources, and those who do not. Individuals born into wealth often have greater access to mentorship, networks, and academic support, while individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds or homelessness often face limited access to education, guidance, and career opportunities.

     This imbalance contributes to cycles of poverty, limited opportunity, and social inequality. Lack of education on both ends of the spectrum—whether in leadership, financial literacy, technical skills, or life development—continues to be one of the root causes of many global challenges.

     Eagles Structures was created with the belief that education should be practical, accessible, and designed to give every individual a real opportunity to succeed, grow, and build a better future regardless of their starting point in life.
 

Our Educational Commitment

That is why education is a core foundation of our company and will be integrated into five structured programs:

• Educational Program / Construction School
  Focused on technical knowledge, construction fundamentals, leadership, and real-world workforce preparation.

• Brotherhood Program
  Designed to build teamwork, mentorship, discipline, communication, and professional culture within the workforce.

• Safety First Program
  Focused on jobsite safety education, hazard awareness, prevention systems, and life protection standards.

• LEED Program / Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
  Focused on sustainable construction practices, environmental responsibility, and modern green building standards.

• Quality Control Program
  Focused on construction standards, inspection systems, accuracy, performance improvement, and long-term durability of work.

Vision

Eagles Structures believes that when education is properly designed and accessible, it can reduce inequality, improve opportunity, and create stronger individuals, stronger businesses, and stronger communities. Our mission is to use education as a foundation for long-term success, leadership, and positive impact in the construction industry and beyond.

Personal Eagles Structures Testimony

• Eagles Structures is composed of members who were once apprentices in the construction field. Like many others, we experienced the reality of the jobsite—the physical demands, the learning process through mistakes, the challenges of entry-level labor, and the lack of proper guidance in many situations. This background is what makes Eagles Structures different. We are not speaking from theory; we are speaking from experience. We understand the struggles, failures, and gaps in the system, and we are committed to improving the industry through education, structure, and leadership.

• High school education, in its current form, is often presented as a complete foundation for adulthood. However, in practice, it does not fully prepare students for real life, workforce demands, financial independence, or personal responsibility. After completing high school, students are generally expected to either immediately enter the workforce or continue into college or university. This creates a system where many individuals are pushed into further education without first being fully prepared for life, work, or independence. This meaning that the educational system is bad. 

• In many cases, the high school environment includes bullying, social pressure, and emotional challenges that negatively affect student development. These experiences can damage confidence, communication skills, and personal growth. At Eagles Structures, we understand this reality because we have experienced similar environments ourselves, which is why we emphasize protection, mentorship, and structured development for all individuals involved in our programs.

• High school is often described as a place for friendship and growth, but for many students it becomes an environment of isolation, pressure, and lack of real-world preparation. As a result, many students graduate without strong communication skills, discipline, or a clear sense of purpose or direction in life.

• In addition, the structure of the educational system can sometimes promote comfort over discipline. Students may become accustomed to structured environments that do not fully prepare them for the demands of the real world, where responsibility, pressure, and performance are constant expectations.

• Another concern is that some educators may lack real-world industry experience in the subjects they teach. While many are academically qualified, limited exposure to real field conditions can create a gap between theory and practical application. This can lead to situations where students are taught concepts without fully understanding how they apply in real environments.

• College and universities follow a similar pattern in many cases. A significant portion of academic material is theoretical and based on textbooks rather than real-life application. Students are often expected to fully understand practical industries after graduation, rather than being fully prepared during their studies.

• Higher education systems also require students to take general education classes that may not directly relate to their chosen field of study. While these courses are intended to develop critical thinking and communication skills, they can also increase time, cost, and complexity without always providing direct career value.

• In many cases, the academic workload is inconsistent with real-world expectations. Assignments that are designed to take short periods of time often require significantly more effort and time in practice, creating stress and inefficiency in the learning process.

• Support systems within colleges, such as student success departments, are intended to assist students. However, in many situations, their support is limited to general guidance rather than direct, specialized academic or career assistance, especially in technical or industry-specific fields.

• Academic advising departments also play a major role in guiding students, but their recommendations are often based on structured curriculum paths rather than personalized industry readiness or real-world job market conditions.

• Over time, the focus on academic writing, formal structure, and standardized education has reduced practical reading, writing, and communication ability for many individuals, making it more difficult for some to effectively engage with complex real-world materials.

• In conclusion, while the current educational system provides structure and opportunity, it also contains significant limitations in preparing individuals for real-world success or construction. Many graduates enter adulthood without practical skills, financial understanding, or career clarity. At Eagles Structures, we recognize these gaps firsthand because we have lived them. This is why we are committed to building a stronger system focused on real education, real experience, leadership development, and practical preparation for life and industry.