Construction Accounting Article -
Help Build Tomorrow's Workforce Today

Target Audience: Construction Industry Professionals, Accounting Consulting Interest, Contractors, Recruiters, Job Seekers

In hopes of mitigating the labor shortage that has plagued the construction business for some time now, a variety of industry organizations have launched programs designed to draw new workers into careers in the construction industry. You can help spread the word — and build tomorrow’s workforce today — by getting involved on the local level.

4 Better-known Efforts

Four of the better-known efforts to provide on-the-job training, scholarships, college curricula and specialized training for students interested in construction jobs include:

• The “Make It Happen” campaign, sponsored by the Home Builders Institute,
• The Homebuilding Education Leadership Program, sponsored by the National Housing Endowment,
• Construction Career Academies, sponsored by Associated General Contractors of America, and
• The School-to-Career Registered Apprenticeship Program, sponsored by the National Center for Construction Education and Research.

To succeed, however, these and other educational efforts need help from contractors. The advantages to you are many. You’ll be helping to build a stable supply of local workers for your construction company. In addition, you can strengthen your community and business ties while gaining free access to training resources.

A Program in Focus

So what would the extent of your involvement be? The School-to-Career Registered Apprenticeship Program, for instance, relies on contractors to mentor and train high school students. So, if you align your company with this program (or one like it), you would help:

Identify the right candidates. You would work with local high schools to design an equitable student selection process. The criteria should be consistent and transparent and apply to all students. This would also likely mean selecting and training existing employees to act as mentors and supervisors for the high school apprentices.

Design a well-rounded curriculum. This would mean identifying basic job skills, such as following directions and mitigating on-the-job conflicts, to teach the students. Naturally, you would want to emphasize safety as you teach these skills.

You would also likely have to ensure that the work you assign students has job rotations that meet the specified learning objectives. And you would need to pay the students a fair wage and provide them with workers’ compensation insurance.

Evaluate the students and issue a grade. Once the program is under way, you would stay in touch with school personnel to discuss each student’s progress and handle any concerns. And you would need to issue a grade regarding each apprentice’s skills and knowledge at the end of the apprentice period or as requested.

Of course, apprenticeships shouldn’t displace any full-time employees. If your workers seem resistant or suspicious of the program, explain that it’s an opportunity for them to share their knowledge and experience — as well as potentially lighten their workloads.

Apprentices may have something to teach their superiors, too. Many programs serve as refresher courses for seasoned job site crews.

A Better Future

To get involved in an apprenticeship or training program, contact any of the trade organizations listed above, others you might know of or even a local high school. The efforts you make today could lead to a better future for the construction industry as a whole and your company in particular.

Find out how our expertise in construction accounting can add value to your business. Email us or call us at 1 (888) 875-9770.

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