Pilot Program at Middle School Introduces Students to Skilled Trades

C.A.C.T.U.S. (Careers in Architecture, Construction and Trades Uplifting Students) is a pilot program after-school club bringing students and construction professionals together to learn about the exciting career pathways available. Students at Madison Park Middle School in Phoenix, Arizona are working with owners, presidents, project managers, superintendents, various trade professionals and more to learn about the design and build process in the built environment. Six teams of students have designed and built dog houses throughout the semester using plans, tools and hands-on learning experiences. Madison Park Middle School is hosting its annual student Maker Faire from 5-7 p.m. on May 17 … Read more

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Lincoln Tech, Johnson Controls Team Up To Build Technical Workforce of the Future

WEST ORANGE, N.J. – Lincoln Educational Services Corporation has entered into an agreement with Johnson Controls to provide expanded career opportunities for Lincoln Tech graduates and to help build the Johnson Controls workforce. This marks the second partnership with a global employer that Lincoln has announced within the last several weeks. Graduates of Lincoln Tech’s Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning and Electrical and Electronic Systems Technology training programs throughout the country will have the opportunity to pursue careers with Johnson Controls, which will assist Lincoln in recruiting new students for these programs. Johnson Controls will provide training equipment and sponsor … Read more

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Using Technology to Deal with Construction Labor Shortage

By Dr. Sergey Sundukovskiy The ongoing labor shortage in the construction industry is a chronic issue that isn’t going away. The construction industry must turn to technological solutions to help manage increasingly complicated projects with fewer workers. It’s been nearly a decade since the worst days of the Great Recession and the housing market crash. An estimated 30 percent of construction workers left the field during the economic downturn. The skilled construction labor pool has never recovered. More than 70 percent of construction firms reported having trouble recruiting for hourly craft labor positions in August 2017, according to the Associated … Read more

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ABC Highlights Construction Worker Shortage during National Apprenticeship Week

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Associated Builders and Contractors commends the U.S. Department of Labor for declaring Nov. 13-19 National Apprenticeship Week. It’s the third consecutive year that business, labor, government, education and other partners are highlighting the tremendous job opportunities apprenticeships provide and the need for an infusion of Americans to pursue a skilled trade. “The construction industry has a critical shortage of skilled workers,” said ABC President and CEO Michael Bellaman, who this week participated in his first meeting as an appointee of the Trump administration’s newly created Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion. “ABC is thankful for the Department of … Read more

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National Survey Reveals 70% of Contractors Struggle to Find Qualified Craft Workers

Seventy percent of construction firms report they are having a hard time filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce, according to the results of an industry-wide survey recently released by Autodesk and the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that many firms are changing the way they operate, recruit and compensate, but cautioned that chronic labor shortages could have significant economic impacts absent greater investments in career and technical education. “In the short-term, fewer firms will be able to bid on construction projects if they are concerned they will not have enough workers … Read more

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