building officials · of new participants will enter the building construction workforce. in...

Results of a 2014 Survey

A demographic survey of Minnesota Building Officials conducted by the MinnesotaConstruction Codes and Licensing Division (CCLD) in cooperation with the Association of Minnesota Building Officials (AMBO)

Where possible, results are compared to anational survey of U.S. code officialsconducted by the International Code Council (ICC) and the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS)

MinnesotaBuilding Officials

January 2015

Minnesota Building Officials and municipalities(as of Dec. 17, 2014)

852 Cities 426 administer the State Building Code1,790 Townships 64 administer the State Building Code87 Counties 16 administer the State Building Code* 506 units of government administer the State Building Code

219 Designated Building Officials administer the code for 506 units of government

Certified Building Officials 555Certified Building Officials (Limited) 145Accessibility Specialists 42 742 Minnesota certifications

*The State Building Code is administered in a total of 22 Minnesota counties

MINNESOTA BUILDING OFFICIALSResults of a demographic survey of Minnesota Building Officials with U.S. comparisons

CCLD / AMBO2

Introduction

There is growing concern within many sectors of the building construction industry that an insufficient number of new participants will enter the building construction workforce. In addition to the lack of available skilled tradespersons, this includes building code enforcement professionals to serve the regulatory segment of the industry.

Meanwhile, the municipal building official’s role and responsibilities continue to expand. This extends from an increasing number of complex regulations in the model codes to the mounting pressures for local government to do more with less. Compounding the situation is many of the most experienced building officials who have adapted and found a way to juggle these challenges are nearing retirement in record number. These sentiments are expressed frequently among building officials as more of them retire from the profession. This survey of Minnesota Building Officials was conducted to see if this was true.

Minnesota’s Construction Codes and Licensing Division (CCLD) and the Association of Minnesota Building Officials (AMBO) conducted a state-wide survey of Minnesota Certified Building Officials, those specifically employed in the municipal building regulatory process, to understand the current state of the industry, pathways for entering the career and the long-term outlook of the profession.

The survey was conducted from Nov. 17 through Dec. 1, 2014, with 346 responses (62 percent). CCLD sent surveys to known e-mail addresses of Minnesota Certified Building Officials (and Limited). In addition, the survey was forwarded to the membership of various Minnesota Chapters of the International Code Council (ICC).

The data collected is presented here in graph form and then compared, when possible, to recent data obtained from a similar national survey conducted by ICC and the National Institute of Building Sciences. Our hope is this is the first step in the process to identify and validate the most pressing challenges that face Minnesota Building Officials and then find solutions to those challenges. We also hope this will serve as a basis for future outreach efforts designed to develop the skills and increase the number of participants who enter Minnesota’s building code enforcement workforce.

Scott D. McLellan, DirectorConstruction Codes and Licensing DivisionMinnesota Department of Labor and Industry(651) [email protected]/Ccld.asp

Doug Determan, ChairmanAssociation of Minnesota Building Officials(612) [email protected]


CCLD / AMBO 3

Twin Cities Metro61.3%

Greater Minnesota

38.8%

Work location

Figure 2

Municipality(city, county,

township),93.1%

Primary level of work

Figure 3

Hireddirectly,93.6%

How hired

Figure 4

Primary level of work

6.9% State(includingU of M)

Hired by athird-partyprovider 6.4%

Figure 1

8.7%

42.2%

49.1%

Minnesota Certified Building Official Limited(Designated by municipality)

Minnesota Certified Building Official (Employed by municipality yet not

designated)

Minnesota Certified Building Official (Designated by municipality)

Current role in building regulation


CCLD / AMBO4

Figure 6

2.3% 2.9%

8.4%10.1%

22.8%

15.9%

19.9%

3.5%

14.2%

Less than1,000

1000 to2,499

2,500 to4,999

5,000 to9,999

10,000 to24,999

25,000 to49,999

50,000 to99,999

100,000to

149,999

150,000and

greater

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

Size of Minnesota communities served

31.2%

28.4%

14.1%

7.8% 6.9%

2.4% 2.2%3.7%

0.9% 0.9% 1.6%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

Size of U.S. communities served

Figure 5


CCLD / AMBO 5

Those completing a Minnesotatechnical or vocational school program

Those completing a communitycollege or associate’s degree

Figure 8 Figure 9

HVAC4%

Electrical3%

Plumbing8%

Carpentry 44%

Other41%

0.0%

10.1%

21.4%

39.0%

24.9%

4.6%1.0%

25.0%

16.0%

23.0%27.0%

8.0%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

40.0%

45.0%

Some highschool

Graduated highschool

Technical orvocational

Communitycollege orassociate's

degree

4-year collegeor bachelor's

degree

Advanceddegree or

masters, PhD,etc.

Educational experience

Minnesota U.S.

18.8%

2.9%

4.3%

2.4%

71.5%

27.0%

21.0%

16.0%

20.0%

16.0%

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0%

Other

Construction management

Architectural technology

Engineering technology

Building inspection technology

Figure 7


CCLD / AMBO6

Figure 11

13.8%

8.3%

13.8%11.0%

16.5%

47.7%

6.0%

15.5%

30.0%

14.4%

26.6%

7.4%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

Administrationor

management

Architecture Engineering Constructionmanagement

Business Other

Minnesota U.S.

Figure 10

13.0%

4.3%0.0%

17.4%

65.2%

26.0% 27.0%

14.0%

3.0%

30.0%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

Architecture Enginering Business Administration ormanagement

Other

Those completing a masters or PhDMinnesota U.S.

Those completing a four year college orbachelor’s degree program


CCLD / AMBO 7

34.4%

44.4%

14.7%

1.4%

5.0%

46.6%

23.7%

12.3%

4.0%

13.4%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

40.0%

45.0%

50.0%

Trades person Code inspector/planreviewer/codeadministrator

Construction/projectmanager

Productsales/development

Architect/engineer

First paying job in career pathMinnesota U.S.

Figure 13

20.5%

39.0%

32.1%

7.2%

1.2%

22.4%

35.0%

28.1%

12.9%

1.7%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

40.0%

45.0%

20 to 29 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60 and up

Age entering the building codeenforcement profession

Minnesota U.S.

Figure 12


CCLD / AMBO8

Figure 15

62.1%

25.4%21.7% 22.0% 21.7%

29.5%

16.4%

43.7%

35.9%

25.1%

18.0%

48.2%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

Working inconstructionenvironment

Salary orbenefits

Respect for theprofession

Friend or familyor colleaguesuggestion

Interactionswith codeofficials

Job security

Factors that led to pursuing career in building code enforcement

Minnesota U.S.

8.1%

40.8%

31.5%

17.9%

1.7%

9.9%

42.5%

30.8%

14.9%

2.0%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

40.0%

45.0%

Less than 5 years 5 to 15 years 16 to 25 years 26 to 35 years 36 years or more

Years in building code enforcementMinnesota U.S.

Figure 14


CCLD / AMBO 9

Figure 17

Figure 16

123%

226%

3 to 520%

6 or more31%

Number of staff performing planreview or inspection (Minnesota)

53.5%

15.0%11.0%

6.7%

13.9%

33.2%

23.9%

12.5%9.7%

20.1%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

1 to 4 5 to 9 10 to 14 15 to 24 25 or more

Number of staff in building departmentMinnesota U.S.


CCLD / AMBO10

Figure 19

1 to 386%

4 to 611%

3%

Figure 18

7 or more

5.2%8.1%

50.1%

30.4%

4.3%1.5%

3.9%

21.8%

41.3%

21.2%

7.7%4.3%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

Less than$25,000/yr

$25,000 to$49,999/yr

$50,000 to$74,999/yr

$75,000 to$99,999/yr

$100,000 to$124,999/yr

$125,000 ormore

Current salariesMinnesota U.S.

Number of previous construction or codeenforcement jobs before becoming theDesignated Building Official (Minnesota)


CCLD / AMBO 11

0.3%3.3%

12.3%

28.8%

45.6%

6.4%

0.1%3.5%

13.3%

26.6%

50.0%

9.9%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

18 to 24 25 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 54 55 to 64 65 or older

Age

Minnesota U.S.

Your age

Figure 20

11.9%

26.0% 26.0% 26.9%

9.3%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

Less than 2 years 2 to 5 years 6 to 10 years 11 to 24 years 25 years or more

Plans to leave the building code enforcementprofession (Minnesota)

31.0%

51.0%

14.0%

4.0%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

Less than 5 years 5 to 15 years 16 to 25 years 26 to 36 years

Plans to leave the building code enforcementprofession (U.S.)

Figure 21

Figure 22


CCLD / AMBO12

Figure 25

Yes85%

No15%

Would you recommendthis career field to others?

Figure 24

2.0%

3.0%

3.0%

3.0%

3.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

9.0%

13.0%

18.0%

28.0%

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0%

Find another career

Start early/young

Don't get a "big head"

Must have "thick skin"

Rewarding career

Get certified

Get a college education

Find an internship

Learn good people skills

Construction industry experience

Study the code

Other

Advice for a prospective candidate who is interested inbecoming a building code enforcement professional

Figure 23

5.0%

10.7%

12.8%

13.5%

23.8%

34.2%

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0%

Challenging

Protecting the public

Working in the construction industry

Variety of work

Other

Helping contractors and homeowners

What you like most about your career inbuilding code enforcement


CCLD / AMBO 13

Figure 26

CCLD / AMBO


CCLD / AMBO

13.6%

15.3%

15.6%

17.6%

26.6%

27.2%

28.9%

29.2%

31.2%

37.6%

50.6%

Too many code requirements

Available continuing education programs

Other

Competing municipal responsibilities

Not enough staff

Statewide code enforcement

Pay

Career-field prep training and education

Pending retirements

Complexity of code

Finding qualified staff

Top three challenges facing the buildingcode enforcement industry in Minnesota

14

Figure 27

29.2%

31.2%

50.6%

13.6%

37.6%

17.6%

26.6%

28.9%

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0%


Pending retirements



Complexity of code


Not enough staff

Pay

Top factors challenging the building code enforcement industry in Minnesota

Municipality

Code

Qualified staff


CCLD / AMBO 15

Profile of the typical Minnesota Building Official

• The “typical” Minnesota Building Official is male, between the ages of 55 and 64, has been in building code enforcement between five and 15 years, and plans to retire within the next 10 years (although many within the next five years).

• First paying job was in building code enforcement as their chosen career while in their 30’s, entered this field to be part of the construction industry, and had one to three previous construction or code-enforcement jobs before becoming a Designated Building Official for a municipality.

• Although most do not have a trade license, they do have one or more other professional licenses or certifications.

• This [Designated] Building Official is employed by a local unit of government in the Twin Cities having a population of between 10,000 and 25,000, makes between $50,000 and $75,000, and works in a building department having between one and four staff members.

• This building official would recommend to others the career field of building code enforcement.

• Their best advice for a prospective candidate who is interested in becoming a building code professional is to “study the code” and get some “construction industry experience.”

• What they like most about their career in building code enforcement is “helping contractors and homeowners.”


CCLD / AMBO16

Please complete the survey below if you are a Minnesota Certified Building Official who is employed by or works on behalf of a Minnesota municipality.

* 1. What is your current role in building regulation?

Minnesota Certified Building Official (Designated by Municipality)

Minnesota Certified Building Official Limited (Designated by Municipality)

Minnesota Certified Building Official (Employed by municipality but not Designated)

* 2. What is your age?

18 to 24

25 to 34

35 to 44

45 to 54

55 to 64

65 or older

* 3. What is your gender?

Female

Male

* 4. Do you work in the Twin Cities metro or Greater Minnesota?

Twin Cities metro

Greater Minnesota

Exit this survey

Municipality (city, county, township)

* 6. What is your current salary?

Less than $25,000/year

$25,000 to $49,999/year

$50,000 to $74,999/year

$75,000 to $99,999/year

$100,000 to $124,999/year

$125,000 or more

* 7. Please indicate your highest level of educational experience.

Some high school

Graduated high school

Technical or vocational school

Community college or associate's degree

4-year college or bachelor's degree

Advanced degree or masters, PhD, etc.

* 8. What technical or vocational school program did you complete?

HVAC

Electrical

Plumbing

Carpentry

N/A

Other (please specify)

* 5. Do you work primarily at the state or local level?

State (including U of M)


CCLD / AMBO 17

Municipality (city, county, township)

* 6. What is your current salary?

Less than $25,000/year

$25,000 to $49,999/year

$50,000 to $74,999/year

$75,000 to $99,999/year

$100,000 to $124,999/year

$125,000 or more

* 7. Please indicate your highest level of educational experience.

Some high school

Graduated high school

Technical or vocational school

Community college or associate's degree

4-year college or bachelor's degree

Advanced degree or masters, PhD, etc.

* 8. What technical or vocational school program did you complete?

HVAC

Electrical

Plumbing

Carpentry

N/A


* 5. Do you work primarily at the state or local level?

State (including U of M)





N/A


* 10. What four-year college or bachelor's degree program did you complete?

Architecture

Engineering


Business

Administration or management

N/A


* 11. What advanced degree or masters, PhD, etc. did you complete?

Architecture

Engineering

Business


N/A


* 9. What community college or associate's degree did you complete?


CCLD / AMBO18





N/A


* 10. What four-year college or bachelor's degree program did you complete?

Architecture

Engineering


Business


N/A


* 11. What advanced degree or masters, PhD, etc. did you complete?

Architecture

Engineering

Business


N/A


* 9. What community college or associate's degree did you complete?

Tradesperson

Architect or engineer

Construction or project manager

Code inspector, plan reviewer or code administrator

Product sales or development

N/A


* 13. Do you have a trade license?

Yes

No

14. Please indicate what trade licenses you have.

* 15. Do you possess other professional licenses or certifications?

Yes

No

16. Please indicate other professional licenses or certifications you have.

* 17. How many years have you been a building code enforcement professional?

Less than 5 years

5 to 15 years

16 to 25 years

26 to 35 years

* 12. Upon completion of the education above, what was your first job in this career path?

36 years or more


CCLD / AMBO 19

Tradesperson

Architect or engineer

Construction or project manager

Code inspector, plan reviewer or code administrator

Product sales or development

N/A


* 13. Do you have a trade license?

Yes

No

14. Please indicate what trade licenses you have.

* 15. Do you possess other professional licenses or certifications?

Yes

No

16. Please indicate other professional licenses or certifications you have.

* 17. How many years have you been a building code enforcement professional?

Less than 5 years

5 to 15 years

16 to 25 years

26 to 35 years

* 12. Upon completion of the education above, what was your first job in this career path?

36 years or more

* 18. At what age did you become a building code enforcement professional?

20 to 29 years old

30 to 39 years old

40 to 49 years old

50 to 59 years old

60 and up

* 19. How many construction or code-enforcement jobs did you have before becoming the Designated Building Official for a municipality?

1 to 3 different positions


7 or more different positions

N/A

* 20. What factors led you to pursue a job as a building code enforcement professional?

Salary or benefits

Job security

Respect for the profession

Friend or family or colleague suggestion

Interactions with code officials

Working in construction environment



CCLD / AMBO20

* 18. At what age did you become a building code enforcement professional?

20 to 29 years old

30 to 39 years old

40 to 49 years old

50 to 59 years old

60 and up

* 19. How many construction or code-enforcement jobs did you have before becoming the Designated Building Official for a municipality?



7 or more different positions

N/A

* 20. What factors led you to pursue a job as a building code enforcement professional?

Salary or benefits

Job security

Respect for the profession

Friend or family or colleague suggestion

Interactions with code officials

Working in construction environment


2,500 to 4,999

5,000 to 9,999

10,000 to 24,999

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and greater

* 22. Are you hired directly by the municipality you serve or are you a third-party provider?

Hired directly

Hired by a third-party provider

* 23. How many staff are employed in administering the state building code on behalf of your municipality?

1

2

3 to 4

5 to 9

10 to 14

15 to 24

25 or more

* 24. How many staff members actually perform plan review or inspection on behalf of your municipality?

1

2

3 to 5

6 or more

Less than 1,000

1000 to 2,499

* 21. What size community do you currently serve?


CCLD / AMBO 21

2,500 to 4,999

5,000 to 9,999

10,000 to 24,999

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and greater

* 22. Are you hired directly by the municipality you serve or are you a third-party provider?

Hired directly

Hired by a third-party provider

* 23. How many staff are employed in administering the state building code on behalf of your municipality?

1

2

3 to 4

5 to 9

10 to 14

15 to 24

25 or more

* 24. How many staff members actually perform plan review or inspection on behalf of your municipality?

1

2

3 to 5

6 or more

Less than 1,000

1000 to 2,499

* 21. What size community do you currently serve?

* 25. When do you plan on leaving the building code enforcement profession either due to retirement or to pursue an alternative career?

Less than 2 years

2 to 5 years

6 to 10 years

11 to 24 years

25 years or more

* 26. What do you believe are the top three challenges facing the building code enforcement industry in Minnesota? (check only 3)


Not enough staff


Complexity of code


Pay



Pending retirements



27. What do you like most about your career in building code enforcement?

* 28. Would you recommend this career field to others?

Yes

No

Why?


CCLD / AMBO22

* 25. When do you plan on leaving the building code enforcement profession either due to retirement or to pursue an alternative career?

Less than 2 years

2 to 5 years

6 to 10 years

11 to 24 years

25 years or more

* 26. What do you believe are the top three challenges facing the building code enforcement industry in Minnesota? (check only 3)


Not enough staff


Complexity of code


Pay



Pending retirements



27. What do you like most about your career in building code enforcement?

* 28. Would you recommend this career field to others?

Yes

No

Why?

Powered by SurveyMonkey

29. What advice would you give a prospective candidate who is interested inbecoming a building code enforcement professional?

Done Done


CCLD / AMBO 23

Construction Codes and Licensing DivisionDepartment of Labor and Industry

443 Lafayette Road NorthSt. Paul, Minnesota 55155

www.dli.mn.gov

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