These Tradesmen Are Launching Initiatives to Attract the Next Generation of Skilled Workers

The construction industry is facing an ever-widening shortage of skilled labor despite a growing need for more workers, which is why tradesmen like Jon Girod, owner and founder of Washington-based Quail Homes, is working to motivate high school students to consider careers in construction. Girod’s campaign works to provide interested students with a smooth transition from the classroom to the workshop with hands-on training.

Similarly, New York-based building products dealer Curtis Lumber is connecting with elementary school students and high schoolers in Saratoga County to offer educational resources about career opportunities in the skilled trades, Forbes reports.

The group organized and scheduled opportunities for trade professionals to visit classrooms and talk to the students about different topics like building science and high-end custom homes, along with arranging for students to visit construction sites, and to connect with internships and job shadow opportunities.

The task force that Curtis Lumber is part of visits second grade classrooms to present about the trades, and gives the students opportunities for hands-on activities like assembling toolboxes.

Read more