OpEd: Construction Career Training is Essential to Economic Growth
In today’s edition of The Hill, Dan Brodbeck, the National Chairman of Associated Builders and Contractors calls attention to the construction industry’s expected skills gap and the efforts being made by both Congress and the industry to train the workforce of tomorrow. In particular, Mr. Brodbeck highlight’s the recently introduced Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which makes […]
Maintaining American Competitiveness Through Improved Workforce Training: A Guest Post By Congressman Tom Rice (R-SC)
In order to maintain American competitiveness, we must ensure that our 21st Century workforce includes the highly skilled and trained craftsmen and professionals that our economy requires. Over the years, federal workforce training and workplace development programs have been added and existing programs have been modified in order to address spikes in unemployment. While these […]
Construction Training Partnership in Michigan is Succesfully Building the Workforce
The following is an excerpt from an article by Joanna Masterson, Developing Prized Recruits in Western Michigan, from the April 2014 issue of Construction Executive. —— One of the victims of the economic downturn in western Michigan was construction training. With no jobs in sight, community college programs all but fell apart. But now that […]
Construction Charter School Creates Pathway to Apprenticeships
The following is an excerpt from an article by Joanna Masterson, From Classroom to Career: Ohio Construction Academy Offers High School Curriculum And Apprenticeship Instruction, appearing in the April 2014 issue of Construction Executive. When Bart Hacker was president of the Los Angeles/Ventura Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the first thing he did was meet with member […]
A Week of Workforce Development
Workforce development shouldn’t stop for those people who already are a part of the construction industry. That’s why Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is offering its week-long Workforce Development Conference, April 29-May 2 in Birmingham, Ala. This conference combines popular and forward-thinking educational sessions, an interactive exhibit hall, networking events, and the National Craft Championships […]
Career and Technical Education Popular Among US Governors
Workforce development, career and technical education, and job readiness have become some of the most talked about issues as states kick off their 2014 legislative calendars. One reason these topics have become so popular is because many of our state governors have made them top legislative priorities for their administration. The most compelling evidence of […]
Construction Training Partnership EARNs Grant Funding in Maryland
The Baltimore Metro Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors was recently announced as a recipient of an EARN (Employment Advancement Right Now) Maryland grant by the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR). The EARN Maryland program is a state-funded workforce and economic development grant initiative that was passed by the state’s legislature during […]
Construction Career Training Report Highlights Employer Involvement
Vocational education is in the midst of a renaissance, according to a new report published by the Manhattan Institute for Public Policy’s Center for State and Local Leadership. The report, written by nationally recognized policy expert Tamar Jacoby, makes the case that the growing skills gap and skyrocketing college debt has created the perfect storm […]
CTE Hearing Highlights Industry Participation Needs
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives Education and the Workforce Committee held a hearing to investigate proposals for improving career and technical education (CTE) funding programs through the Carl D. Perkins Act re-authorization. In his opening remarks, Chairman John Kline (R-Minn.) mentioned the sub-committee testimony of Al Bargas, president of the ABC Pelican Chapter in […]
Construction User Group Focuses on Skills Gap
Workforce shortages are weighing heavily on the minds of construction owners as they prepare for rapid expansions in infrastructure, petrochemical and energy projects in many parts of the country. To address these issues, the Construction User’s Roundtable held a Skilled Workforce Summit last week in conjunction with their Fall Meeting in Naples, Florida. One […]
