CWDC and The Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) are working to advance a labor-neutral, comprehensive effort to grow a sustainable supply of construction craft professionals through the following:

     1)  A national supply/demand forecasting model to ensure a reliable understanding of the craft labor need.

     2)  An effective, relevant, contemporary marketing campaign that is edgy, compelling, and unexpected – that captures the attention of the target audiences and fills the pipeline with quality, employable candidates.  The campaign will portray the industrial/commercial construction industry in a way that is convincing, draws promising, talented candidates to the industry and succeeds in dispelling the perception that construction is an undesirable career option – much the same way the Army employed a marketing strategy that convinced its target audiences that the Vietnam-era army has been replaced by a modern army that provides superior career opportunities, unprecedented training and education opportunities, and individual fulfilment and advancement.

     3)  Effective training through qualified programs. CWDC will promote qualified, technical school programs and other local/regional training centers and programs.  These would include all qualified training programs, whether union or non-union apprenticeship programs.

     4)  Supply the “glue” that links together numerous silo efforts…no replication of effective training and outreach programs.

     5)  Work with contractors to place candidates and then follow those candidates to help ensure they are retained in the industry.

     6)  Make a clear distinction between the significant opportunities on industrial construction projects and residential/commercial projects.

     7)  Encourage construction owners to “restrict their bidding to” or “give strong preference to” contractors that actively engage in the progressive workforce development programs.

The goal of CWDC and this initiative specifically is to understand the craft professional supply/demand circumstances and then use that information to educate the general public in a targeted fashion about employment opportunities for skilled construction craft professionals, as well as the availability of skilled trades educational, training and job placement opportunities.

The following craft labor positions are defined as industrial skilled construction craft professional positions and generally represent the most acute need: Boilermakers, Combo Welders, Tube Welders, Ironworkers, Pipefitters, Millwrights, Electricians, Carpenters, Laborers, Insulators, Operating Engineers, Painters, Sheet Metal Workers and Helpers.

Tremendous opportunity exists and must be seized, particularly in the current economy where jobs in manufacturing industries are steadily being cut through cost-reducing measures.  The problem that must be overcome is the historical perception that industrial sector craft construction jobs, even highly skilled positions, are dead-end, low-paying, seasonal and unsafe.

The CWDC was founded for the purposes of overcoming these now-outdated perceptions, and growing the supply of construction craft professionals for the industrial and heavy commercial construction industry.  In short, CWDC intends to fill the pipeline with quality construction craft professional worker candidates.

Although the current economic downturn has changed the view of many with regard to how compelling the issue of workforce development may be; there is no question that when the construction pendulum swings back, the craft worker shortage will return.  On June 24, 2009, The New York Times reported a significant need even in the recession. Click here to read story

Let's prepare now so that the industry is ready as construction rebounds.