The highlight of my career has been the years I’ve spent working in the residential construction market. The new-construction and remodeling industries are filled with hardworking, honest, successful, generous people. This culture is what attracted so many of us to this market and has inspired us to stay and try to make a positive difference.
We all know that there is a two-headed monster facing the construction industry. Our inability to attract new talent, combined with the aging of our present workforce, is the most serious issue affecting growth in the market. While some attempts have been made to solve the problem, there is no single, concerted, industrywide effort that attacks this issue head-on.
I am proposing that we do exactly that!
SGC Horizon, publisher of this magazine, has joined forces with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), National Association of the Remodeling Industry, National Kitchen & Bath Association, and This Old House, and together we’ve formed the Skilled Labor Fund.
Our goal is simple: to attract and train new workers for our industry by providing scholarships for accredited schools. The schools, in turn, will fund qualified students who are interested in a career in the residential construction field. Any nonprofit educational institution can apply to receive and offer scholarships, including apprenticeship programs, junior colleges, and organizations such as Home Builders Institute and SkillsUSA. The Skilled Labor Fund is part of the National Housing Endowment—the philanthropic arm of the NAHB—but its mission is executed at the local level. This means your donation can assist students in your market.
The labor problem won’t be solved without a concerted effort. Every company in the construction market needs to take ownership of this issue. I am asking you or your business to pitch in and make a contribution to the Skilled Labor Fund in 2018. Of course, I want you to dig deep and make the largest contribution possible, but honestly, what’s most important is that everyone gives something, no matter the amount. Our strength is in our unity. It’s critical that we are all in on this: builders, remodelers, product manufacturers, service companies, media companies, and associations.
This is our industry and we are the ones that need to make this happen.
Please reach out to me with any questions, ideas, or feedback.
Comments
School and Training
Tony, we started a trade school called Maverick Technical Institute in Nashua NH in an attempt to provide a education as a Low Voltage Technician in our trade. We are in our second year and have been involved in every High School/Trade career day for 60 miles of Nashua ! We run open houses and are reaching out to High School students so they know there is a way to build a career as a LVT and make a good living wage. What we need to help is the ability to reach out to the students and offer them a career, I hope there is some way we can work together with your initiative. Dennis
Please check out : http://www.mti.school/.
Technical Trade School
Hello Tony, we have started a trade school called Maverick Technical Institute in Nashua NH to provide the area with skilled technicians. Our program includes a 1 year program for our students that want to pursue a career as a Low Voltage Technician (LVT). We have gone to every High School career day within 60 miles of Nashua and looking for students that want learn a trade that can become a career. Maybe there is some synergy between your initiative and ours, check out : http://www.mti.school/. Dennis
Would love to talk
My name is Jeremy flaten, I own a residential Framing and siding construction company in Minnesota I am working hard to get kids back in the trade and would love to chat about your ideas in order to implement some in this market please contact me so we can chat
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