Denver, CO — Since launching the Construction Careers Now (CCN) program in July 2016, 114 participants have registered, with 100 enrolled for the inaugural program on September 12, 2016. The outpouring of participants is promising to local contractors facing labor shortages. In a report released August 31, 2016 by the Associated General Contractors of America, 69% of construction firms nationwide report having trouble filling hourly trade positions.
Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer for AGC of America, commented, “With the construction industry in most of the country now several years into a recovery, many firms have gone from worrying about not having enough work to not having enough workers.” The report also shows that 89% of Colorado firms report facing difficulty filling hourly craft positions – 20% higher than the national average. Coupled with an estimated 30,000 new employees needed in the construction industry in Colorado over the next seven years, the CCN program seeks to augment that workforce labor shortage.
This pre-apprenticeship program is supported by two, full time professional mentors/advisors for outreach and recruitment for future students to enroll in the cycle of one-month construction training programs at the Emily Griffith Technical College (EGTC). Erika Anderson, a bilingual Spanish proficient professional, and Jim Spence, a talent acquisition specialist, have been working since July to recruit, mentor and counsel potential participants. They have been actively participating in community festivals, local career fairs, church bazaars, and most recently had a booth at KBPI’s Rock N Roll Car Show at Bandimere Speedway, in order to spread awareness of this workforce development program.
EGTC has already made accommodations at the 12th and Osage location to prepare for the multitude of participants. “We have the necessary resources already in place to adequately prepare these participants for a career in construction, since we designed this space for the candidates to experience the kind of work they are expected to do in the field. We are grateful for the response we have received so far, and can look towards adding more training sessions if necessary in the near future,” said Michael Bevis, Dean of the College of Trades and Industry at Emily Griffith.
Construction firms have the opportunity to support the hiring fairs that take place during the third week of every four-week training program. With 100 participants in September, contractors will have ample opportunity to screen and hire qualified individuals to help meet labor shortages in the industry.
“Contractors are facing pressure from owners to build projects in a more timely and efficient manner. This program is a win-win for the industry because it creates a career path for working-age adults and helps contractors keep on pace with the construction growth in Colorado,” commented Terry Kish, Director of Safety & Workforce Development for the Colorado Contractors Association, one of the three organizations that partnered together with AGC of Colorado and the Hispanic Contractors of Colorado to obtain the $1 million grant that supports CCN.
Images courtesy of Construction Careers Now
