Students may train for careers in building trades

Construction workers are retiring in large numbers, according to the National Association of Home Builders, as they get older; the average construction worker is in his or her mid-50s.

According to one estimate, the construction industry ought to be adding about 225,000 workers a year to offset attrition and meet labor demands. In 2002, year-end housing starts totaled 1.7 million, the highest level in 16 years, and issuance of housing permits in 2002 was at its highest level since 1986. The industry has fallen 65,000 to 80,000 workers short of these hiring goals in recent years. As a result, the home-building industry projects a shortage of 800,000 workers nationwide by 2010, mostly in specialties such as carpentry, electrical, plumbing, masonry and heating/air-conditioning.

To help fight this shortage, SkillsUSA, a national organization serving more than 250,000 high school and college students and professional members who are enrolled in training programs in technical, skilled and service occupations, holds annual National Leadership and Skills Conferences (NLSC) to showcase career and technical education students.

With programs that help establish industry standards for job skill training in the classroom, SkillsUSA prepares America’s high performance workers. It provides quality education experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development, while building and reinforcing self-confidence, positive work attitudes and communication skills. Programs include local, state and national competitions for students to demonstrate their occupational and leadership skills.

To learn more about this organization and its programs, visit www.skillsusa.org.

This story was provided by the North American Precis Syndicate.