Toolbelt generation: how to attract and keep Gen Z talent in construction

The emergence of Gen Z in the workforce has created a surprising and welcome turning point for the skilled trades.

In a recent episode of the AVT Podcast, we sat down with Kit Dickinson, Construction Industry Executive at ADP, to talk about what this new generation wants, how they evaluate employers, and what construction companies need to rethink if they want to attract and retain them.

The rise of the toolbelt generation

Recent data shows a notable shift in educational choices toward hands-on, skill-based learning. Enrollment in vocational-focused community college programs rose about 16% in 2023, hitting its highest level on record, driven in part by demand for practical skills and quicker paths to employment.

At the same time, construction trade programs have experienced strong growth, with reported increases nearing 20% year-over-year in recent terms.

How to attract and retain Gen Z in construction?

Gen Z grew up with technology in their hands. They expect work tools to be fast, intuitive, and mobile-first. If the experience feels outdated, they do not argue. They move on.

Kit’s takeaways can be boiled down to a few practical shifts:

• Start with mobile: your app experience is often the first impression of how “modern” you are
• Make it frictionless: simple workflows for applying, onboarding, time capture, and pay info
• Tell a real story: culture, values, community impact, and career path matter
• Respect how they decide: Gen Z is resourceful and well-researched, not “lazy”

“When they interact with a company, they expect the same kind of experience they get everywhere else. If the technology feels clunky, that sends a message,” Kit shared.

What mobility means on the job site?

Construction work does not happen at a desk. ADP’s mobile strategy reflects that reality, with a focus on:

• Time capture in harsh, real-world environments
• Real-time communication between job sites and the back office
• Multilingual accessibility
• Worker self-service for pay, PTO, and onboarding

When mobile workflows work, they reduce friction for workers, supervisors, and small HR teams alike.

How ADP Workforce Now for Construction is supporting the industry?

That shift in expectations is one reason ADP made a fundamental change in how it serves construction.

The passage of the Infrastructure Act in 2021 accelerated demand for compliant, scalable construction payroll and workforce solutions. For ADP, this means a deeper structural shift backed by product, people, and partnerships.

That investment led to:

• Construction-specific payroll capabilities for prevailing wage, union rules, certified payroll, and job costing
• A dedicated Construction Center of Excellence focused on implementation
• Strong ecosystem partnerships across ERP, time collection, and job site technologies, including Sage Intacct Construction

As Scott Jackson, CEO of Alta Vista Technology, put it during the conversation:

“Technology alone is not enough. The real progress happens when systems work together and when the people implementing them understand what contractors actually deal with in the field.”

What AI can do in construction

AI plays a role in construction, but not in the flashy way headlines often suggest.

Because ADP processes payroll for roughly one in six Americans, its AI models are trained on one of the largest workforce datasets available. That allows AI to:

• Detect payroll anomalies, such as unusual pay patterns or classification mismatches
• Surface workforce trends tied to turnover, hiring, and labor demand
• Answer common employee questions around pay, time off, and basic processes through ADP Assist

“AI is only as good as the data behind it,” Kit noted. “That’s where ADP has a real advantage.”

The human behind the episode

Beyond technology and trends, this episode is a human conversation. You’ll hear what Scott’s summer jobs looked like, why Kit is so passionate about construction payroll and even a quick food guide.

👉 Watch the full episode to get the full story.