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Meeting Recruitment Needs In the Construction
Industry
AGC offers programs to enhance career
educationand improve the industry's image
By AGC CEO Steve Sandherr
Education no longer begins in kindergarten
or ends with a diploma in hand. Likewise today, employers
can't wait until job seekers knock on their door to find qualified
staff for their work force.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects
that the construction industry will add nearly 175,000 jobs
annually (net construction work force), making recruitment
and retention even more important. AGC recognizes the importance
of educating and training young people about the construction
industry, so AGC has developed a wide range of materials to
help its chapters and local contractors attract and retain
the best employees.
AGC's tools are designed to help employers
improve the industry's image, give back to the community,
enhance recruiting and strengthen the work force. Those tools
include:
> AGC Construction Futures, an educational
outreach program designed to enhance the industry's image.
It also promotes student interest in construction through
coordinated education and community service. It includes "Build
Up!" and "On Site!" interactive, turnkey curricula
for elementary and middle schools.
> ConstructMyFuture.com, a Web resource
that allows students, parents and teachers to explore careers
in construction. ConstructMyFuture.com provides resources
to teachers to develop and strengthen programs at the high
school, college and technical school levels. It is a joint
effort of AGC, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers
and the Associated Equipment Distributors Foundation.
> Department of Labor Grant Funding
for Construction Career Academies. This improves and influences
the lives of hundreds of students around the country. AGC's
Construction Career Academies are small learning communities
or schools-within-schools built around a construction-based
career theme, rather than a specific occupation. The U.S.
DOL recently awarded AGC a grant to help fund chapter Construction
Career Academies that educate and inspire students about careers
in construction.
> Young Constructors Forum, a forum
in which AGC members can network about issues facing mid-career
construction professionals. YCF members are dedicated not
only to growing their own personal construction careers, but
also giving back to the construction industry. At AGC's midyear
meeting, they gave a first installment of $5,000 to the AGC
Education Foundation, dedicated to rewarding college students
and helping garner interest in construction careers.
> AGC's Professional Development Programs.
These offer courses to meet employees' needs at every step
in their careers. The Supervisory Training Program, Construction
Project Manager Course, Advanced Management Program and the
Leadership in Construction Workshop offer tools that employees
can take home and apply on the job site or in the office.
Taught by highly-qualified instructors, graduates of AGC's
Professional Development Programs are setting the pace of
business for today's construction industry.
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| FOBA attendees learn the basics of
construction. |
AGC also sponsors the Festival of Building
Arts, where thousands of young people and their families explore
first hand a variety of traditional and contemporary building
trades.
FOBA is an annual event held at the National
Building Museum in Washington, D.C., featuring hands-on activities
and demonstrations by expert builders, engineers and craftspeople
that encourages visitors to learn about and participate in
the building arts. Visitors work side by side with master
craftspeople-from bricklayers and blacksmiths to ironworkers
and gilders-to discover the skills employed in the building
arts.
Educating future generations that will
become the new face of the construction industry is one of
AGC's top priorities. Take advantage of AGC's many resources
to recruit new talent and train employees to make a positive
impact on the construction industry.
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