Tag: skilled-labor

Workforce

Shortage of skilled construction workers delays completion of Iowa biofuel plant

An Iowa biofuel plant is the latest major construction project to fall victim to the widespread shortage of skilled workers in the U.S. According to a report from the Ames Tribune, DuPont has delayed the completion date of a cellulosic ethanol plant the company is building in the city of Nevada, Iowa. The $200 million plant, […]

January 15, 2015

Workforce

BuildOhio.org connects skilled workers to hiring firms, students to industry training across state

Following the release of an Associated General Contractors of America survey in which 83 percent  of U.S. contractors said they can’t find enough skilled craft workers, another of the association’s state chapters has launched a website that looks to help connect these workers and the firms that need them. The AGC of Ohio launched BuildOhio.org last week. […]

November 6, 2014

Business

Alabama backs dual enrollment for high school students to boost skilled workforce

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley recently detailed a plan he hopes will increase the number of skilled workers in the state by allowing high school students to learn a trade before they graduate. During an Alabama Associated General Contractors of America meeting outside Birmingham, Bentley said the state needs more skilled workers, according to a report […]

April 7, 2014

Business

Divergence of construction spending and employment could point to “fundamental change” in the industry

Recently, the folks at Business Insider put together a nicely done and comprehensive article on the skilled labor shortage affecting the construction industry and the impact it’s having on homebuilding. There wasn’t much new news to be found for those of us who follow these stories on a regular basis. Many of the experienced and […]

March 17, 2014

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Maryland shadow program works to draw high school students to construction training

Through the end of this month a vocational school in Fredrick, Maryland is offering students the opportunity to get a taste of the industry by shadowing its construction training program. The Fredrick County Career and Technology Center (CTC) is the home of several construction technology programs. Each year, the CTC gives its construction students hands-on […]

February 12, 2014

Business

Advice from a master woodworker on the shortage of skilled craftsmen

If you’re looking for a positive message to start off the year, something about character, craftsmanship, leadership and where you’re going to find the next generation of construction workers, take a gander at this. It may be the most inspiring nine minutes you’ll spend this year. [vimeo 78788086 nolink] This video is about much more […]

January 8, 2014

Business

How Immigration reform could bring an end to construction’s skilled worker shortage

What’s “step one” in ending the skilled worker shortage currently plaguing construction companies across the U.S.? If you ask Stan Marek, it’s immigration reform. Marek, the CEO of Houston-based Marek Construction, recently penned a fantastic blog post discussing the necessity of immigration reform to the construction industry’s future. With more than 30 million men and […]

January 6, 2014

Workforce

Report: Washington D.C. excludes successful construction-trades academy from “priority” career initiative funding

Despite a 90-percent graduation rate and a more-than 60-percent college-going rate, a Washington D.C. construction-trades academy was excluded from funding in a new D.C.-area Career and Technical Education program, according to a report from Greater Greater Education. The Academy of Construction and Design is based within D.C.’s Cardozo Senior High School. It was established in […]

November 13, 2013

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3: Be Fair

Treating everyone fairly and treating everyone equally isn’t the same thing. If you treat everyone exactly the same, they’ll think you don’t care about them. Have an individualized approach to your employees, and clearly explain decisions you make that affect them. They’ll respect you for it.   < STEP 2           […]

November 12, 2013

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2: Be Open and Honest

Although it’s your company, you should want your employees to be interested and invested in the well-being of the firm. They’re never going to be able to do that unless you tell them what’s going on. Instituting transparency is a direct path to gaining the loyalty and trust of your people. If they feel they […]

November 12, 2013

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1: Have the “Right” People

Attracting and retaining people isn’t enough. You have to hire and keep people who are a good fit for the type of company you want to have. No matter how skilled the employees, sometimes their demeanor or attitude simply derails what you’re trying to accomplish. < INTRO                 […]

November 12, 2013

Business

3 culture-changing steps contractors can take to combat the skilled worker shortage

There’s been no shortage of attention lately to the skilled worker shortage. Although industry advocates like Mike Rowe have been beating the drum for a while, now everyone is catching on—analyzing what happened and trying to find ways to attract new workers to the trade. Some contractors have even created their own courses to train […]

November 12, 2013