Don’t let Port KC mandate a single pathway to construction worker jobs | Opinion
Many Kansas Citians have noticed signs around City Hall and the Port Authority of Kansas City protesting their construction project processes and policies. While the groups are asking for heavier investment in craft professional wages and to restrict construction training pathways, the full story and impact is a bit more complicated.
Port KC is considering a proposal that would encourage general contractors to support registered apprenticeship programs and require prevailing wages on its projects. Because the proposals do not mandate that every contractor use registered apprenticeship programs for every craft they employ, the Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council has started a bannering campaign targeting Port KC.
The largest consequence of these proposals would be to sideline any skilled craft worker who didn’t choose apprenticeship as their training method. These professionals are not outsiders. They are our neighbors, family members and community members. They are the people building Kansas City’s commercial, industrial, residential and infrastructure projects today. They pay the very taxes that support these developments.
The construction industry continues to face a critical shortage of skilled workers. Every commercial, industrial and infrastructure project depends on having enough trained workers to get the job done on time and on budget. If we are serious about meeting demand, we need to expand access to the trades and support multiple pathways into the workforce. This means investing in every pathway to building a career in the construction industry, including employer-driven, on-the-job training, community colleges, trade schools and registered apprenticeships. Forcing every individual and contractor into one training methodology does nothing to expand the workforce, and instead limits our opportunities to grow.
Requiring participation in every craft would put small contractors out of business. Because of apprenticeship ratio constraints, a contractor with three employees can have only one registered apprenticeship program. This means they cannot perform multiple trades, which is how many small companies build their business. This would have a particularly disastrous impact on the minority- and women-owned business enterprises.
These policies would exclude contractors, drive up construction costs and thereby limit the opportunity to grow our community, which is critical to creating jobs.
Everyone invested in the construction industry wants to bring more individuals into the skilled trades. Kansas City’s policies should reflect those goals without putting forth mandates that limit access to those careers.
Port KC has played a major role in regional economic development, particularly in commercial and industrial projects. Developers have noted that flexibility in contracting has helped projects remain financially viable. Any policy change should be evaluated not only on intent, but on impact. These questions should be asked:
- Will it increase workforce participation?
- Will it preserve competitive bidding?
- Will it allow projects to remain economically feasible?
Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. Heart of America supports quality, safety and accountability on public and taxpayer-supported projects. We believe in strong standards. We believe in workforce development. We believe in responsible contracting. What we do not support are policies that sideline the majority of Kansas City’s construction workforce.
Rigid mandates that determine who can and cannot work do not create a pro-worker environment that thrives with economic growth. They limit access. They reduce flexibility. And they risk slowing the very job growth and economic development our region depends on. Kansas City’s future requires expanding opportunities.
Michele Roberts-Bauer is president and CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors Heart of America.
This story was originally published February 23, 2026 at 11:39 AM.