Training centers, community colleges and high schools nationwide will have clearer guidelines to help train future construction workers thanks to a new “competency model” released November 12 by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Associated General Contractors of America. The framework will give educators a clearer picture of the skills required to succeed in construction careers.
“The next generation of construction workers needs the best training programs possible,” said Stephen Sandherr, chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America. “Improving these programs will ensure that workers stay at the cutting edge of the construction industry.”
The competency model, which was developed by AGC members and the Labor Department’s Employment and Training Administration, among other groups, is needed to help ensure that new construction workers are adequately prepared for the demands of the jobs. Construction companies are growing increasingly concerned about how difficult it is to find qualified applicants to hire, Sandherr noted.
The new guidelines will make it easier for educational facilities like training centers, community colleges, and high schools to develop curricula that actually meet the needs of modern construction firms working in the commercial building and industrial sectors of the industry. According to Sandherr, without the guidelines, many instructional programs can vary in content and quality.
"A well-trained, well-prepared workforce is the key to reviving the construction industry and getting our economy moving again,” Sandherr said.
The new Commercial and Industrial Construction Competency Model and instructions on how to use it are available on the Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop website.
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