I’ve blogged many times about the skilled trades gap in the construction industry and presented a few strategies on how we could begin to fill those gaps. Lately, I’ve been encouraged by the development of new programs and organizations that are working toward those goals.
One that has recently caught my attention is the Construction Careers Foundation (CCF) which is based in Minnesota. The non-profit organization says its website “Offers descriptions of 30 different construction careers with pathways on how young adults may enter the construction industry – through events, internships and trade union apprenticeship programs.”
It works through a broader program called Construction Careers Pathways, which is a partnership between trade unions, construction companies, high schools, non-profits, the State of Minnesota, and other strategic partners to attract more young people into construction careers.
The director of the CCF, Pat Wagner says on its website, “Between an aging workforce and a new generation of young people who are simply unaware of careers in construction, we are attempting to address a huge need in the marketplace. By bringing together a broad coalition, we intend to educate the next generation and their influencers (parents, guidance counselors, teachers) about the viability of construction careers.”
Along with its interactive website, there is also a CCF app that is available through the Apple and Google Play stores. The app allows CCF to reach out to young people using the same methods they use to receive and share information.
According to Wagner, these tools convey to trade unions and construction companies that they need to invest in attracting more people of color, more women, and more veterans to meet the need for skilled labor.
Check out this testimonial from the CCF website:
