Summer Jobs in Skilled Trades

School is almost out and it's time for students to start looking for summer jobs. When choosing your job for the summer why not opt for something that will help you learn a new trade and possibly lead to a lifelong career? Here is our list of top summer jobs that will help you develop new skills in the trade industry: 

1. Construction Cleanup - Construction sites are always in need of people to help clean up after the construction is complete. This can be a great opportunity for someone who is looking for a summer job. Sites will generally pay workers by the hour and variable schedules are usually available, so someone looking to make some extra money during the summer may be a good fit.

2. Landscaping - Many landscaping companies hire temporary help during the summer months.  A summer position in landscaping can lead to a variety of opportunities, such as masonry, landscaping architecture, orchard work, and more. By learning the basics of landscaping, you can increase your chances of finding a job that suits your skills and preferences.

3. Painting - Painting companies are often willing to hire summer help as the summer months are their busiest time of the year. Learning a new skill in painting can help you land a job after school or during the summer. Painting companies often offer full or part-time hours to students who are interested in learning new skills.

4. Summer Internships in the trade industry – Many companies offer summer internships in their offices, factories, distribution centers or even in the field on job sies. This gives you the opportunity to learn about the trade from the ground up and see how the industry works from the inside.

Looking to expand your skills beynd just a temporary summer job? You may want to look into one of Ohio's many hands on summer camps where you can learn skills that will last you a lifetime. Here's a list of just a few of the camps available this summer.

Columbus:

https://jfs.franklincountyohio.gov/summer

Cinicnnati:

https://www.easterseals.com/gc/our-programs/employment-training/skilled-trade.html

Cleveland:

https://www.tri-c.edu/youth-programs/youth-summer-camps/index.html

There's no doubt that summer can be a great time to learn new skills and earn some good money. In fact, some summer jobs offer excellent pay and benefits, such as learning a new skill or possibly finding your career path. If you are looking for more information contact your career or guidance counselor today. 

Women in Construction 2022

Embracing Change

The construction workforce is changing and evolving in many positive ways. Most importantly, it is actively embracing diversity and technology. Despite recent changes, it still remains one of the most male-dominated industries in the world but even this is improving.

According to the BLS, women make up approximately 47 percent of the total workforce in the United States. The Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) report says that the number of women working in construction increased by 17.6 percent from 2017 to 2018, reaching well over a quarter of a million (276,000). The overall job growth stood at 3.7 percent in all construction occupations as a whole. 

Women currently occupy many support roles in the construction industry ranging from administrative assistance to on-site support. As of Dec. 31, 2018, approximately 1,106,919 women were employed in various occupation sectors of the construction industry. While that currently accounts for only 9.9% of U.S. construction workers, which is a relatively small percentage compared to other industries, there were still over 900,000 women workers employed throughout the construction industry (i.e., managerial, professional, administrative, and production employees) in 2018. Of those, approximately 276,000 were employed in production occupations, such as laborers, electricians, plumbers, etc. 

Gender Shift

Over the past 30 years, there have been dramatic changes in women’s participation in the U.S. labor force overall. In 1970, about 43 percent of women ages 16 and older were active in the labor force. By 2000, 61 percent of adult women were in the labor force. Over the same period, men’s labor force participation rates declined from 78 percent to 74 percent. These trends are part of broader changes in the labor force that have occurred since the middle of the 20th century. The rapid increase in women’s labor force participation, combined with the simultaneous decline in men’s participation, has closed much of the gender gap in the labor force. In 2000, about 47 percent of people in the labor force were women. If current trends continue, women will soon make up the majority of the U.S. work force. 

Where Are We Headed?

The continued skilled labor shortage continues to be a factor in the way that companies are recruiting and hiring new employees. As this trend continues, more hiring managers are looking to attract and hire a more diverse workforce. Today, construction companies hire women in various roles and responsibilities ranging from trade jobs to heavy machinery operations and construction management.

Numbers are continuing to rise as more and more women are joining the trades. Looking to the future, many see even more opportunities in the industry and enjoy the variety of work and impact it makes. 

Opportunities for Women in Construction

The construction industry as we know it today is wide open with opportunities for women. The industry as a whole has one of the lowest gender pay gaps  in the United States, with women in construction earning 95% of what their male counterparts earn. This is attractive to potential candidates when considering the average female worker makes 81.1% of what their male colleagues earn. 

According to a National Bureau of Economic Research paper, women are more likely to collaborate than men in a team based environment. This is a very important statistic, as construction projects generally require a high level of collaboration and coordinated teamwork. Hiring women increases the likelihood of that much needed teamwork and cooperation, leading to significant improvement in a company’s productivity, efficiency and profits as well as a boost to overall morale.

With changing dynamics, we are seeing more women in construction, smaller pay gaps, and increased opportunities for growth. If you want to get a job in this field, you need to build your skills and knowledge. There are many apprenticeship, scholarship and state-funded programs available today to help more women enter the construction trades.

Tapping High School Seniors to Recruit the Next Generation of Trade Workers

The construction industry is notorious for being on the cutting edge of modernization—pushing the envelope to make a design, build, or process better, more effective or more efficient; relying heavily on technology to help clients get to the future, faster. But for how much the industry relies on technology to improve the craft, the recruitment efforts are completely outdated.

Technology is relied on for everything: booking appointments, food delivery, fitness, entertainment and groceries, to name a few. So why is the construction so heavily relying on outdated tactics to recruit the next generation of construction workers?

Not that long ago, the landscape for hiring was significantly different than it is today. Candidates walked in the door (literally), asked for an application and applied on the spot. Over time, the foot traffic slowed down, so the industry adjusted by seeding referral bonuses. This tactic was certainly more costly than walk-ins, but the pivot in approach was necessary to keep new talent coming in. Eventually, however, referral bonuses began to fall, so the industry was tasked with coming up with new ways of recruitment. This time, they leveraged the internet by posting jobs on sites like Craigslist and Monster.com.

But fast forward to today, even those tactics feel outdated as the nation suffers labor shortages, with the construction industry taking one of the biggest hits. So where are the workers? Where should the industry start recruiting? An increasingly overlooked group is graduating high school seniors. There’s no doubt employers know that high school seniors would make great candidates, but the industry struggles to reach them directly and in an impactful way.

In many cases, high school grads are pushed to college and loaded with debt, only to find that meaningful and lucrative work in construction is left in the rearview mirror. Waiting until the student’s senior year of high school to introduce them to the world of construction and trades is too late.

The industry has to move to the future at a faster pace to meet these potential candidates where they are: online. More than any other generation in our lifetime, Gen Z has only known technology since they were born. This generation makes up a significant population on social media and quite frankly, Gen Zs are searching potential employers using Google, checking out Facebook, Instagram or TikTok pages. If the job seeker doesn’t see any sort of online presence for the company, chances are, the ship has sailed.

So that begs the question: How can the industry grab Gen Z’s attention? Make connections with the very technology in every youth’s pocket to showcase how important the trades are to not only the economy, but also their wallet.

Tips for meeting Gen Z online include the following.

Aside from meeting Gen Z online, employers should get in front of high school guidance counselors. While counselors aren’t pushing the student in one direction or the other, counselors are arming students with information on all possibilities post-graduation.

During recent conversations with high school guidance counselors across the country, a vast majority were unaware where to obtain or how to provide trade information to students. This is a great opportunity to educate and give counselors the tools needed to have impactful and informed conversations with students.

Tips for connecting with high school guidance counselors include the following.

The bottom line is simple, the time is now to connect with the next generation of trade laborers. The industry is counting on it.

Top five construction careers that don't require experience

Construction is a career path that many people don't realize they have the opportunity to pursue. The industry is always on the lookout for hardworking and talented professionals who are looking for an exciting, fast-paced, challenging job with great pay and benefits. Here are the top five construction careers you probably did not know you could get started in with no experience.

1) Construction Laborer

A construction laborer is only required to have a high school diploma. They are responsible for moving, installing and removing material during the building process. Laborers might also be tasked with loading and unloading trucks at an offsite location or working at a site directly constructing foundations (e.g., trenches). This position does not require any prior experience. You could get started with nothing more than a construction laborer training course or you can learn the basic knowledge required on the job.

The average starting for a construction laborer is $32,455 per year.

2) Carpenters and Joiners

Carpenters and joiners are responsible for constructing wooden structures. These positions require carpentry skills, as well as a high school diploma (or equivalent), in order to be successful at the job. Carpenters and Joiners will need to have completed apprenticeship programs or work experience before they can start working independently on building sites. Many companies will pay for the apprenticeship program and provide continuing education courses.

The average starting salary for a carpenter or joiner is $40,901 per year.

3) Bricklayers, Stonemasons, and Tile Setters

Masons are responsible for constructing buildings and other structures from brick, stone, concrete block, or tile. Bricklayers, Stonemasons, and Tile Setters need to have completed apprenticeship programs or work experience before they can start working independently on building sites. Try to find apprenticeship programs that are in your area by contacting local bricklayers or by searching the internet for apprenticeship programs in your area.

The average salary for a bricklayer, stonemason, or tile setter can range from $27,460 all the way up to $67,000 per year!

4) Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Tapers

Painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and tapers are all in the same trade and are responsible for painting or paperhanging an interior space. You need be 18 years of age to work on projects independently. Getting started does not have to be difficult. Some options for those looking to get their foot in the door include completing an apprenticeship program or working as a helper for a company.

Painters, paperhangers, plasterers and tapers make between $25,000 to $35,000 per year on average.

5) Drywall Installer/Hangster

The drywall installer/hanger is responsible for installing and hanging sheets of drywall on ceilings, walls, and floors.

Becoming a drywall installer/hanger does not have to be difficult. Some options include completing an apprenticeship program or working as a helper with the company you want to get hired by before trying out for work independently.

Drywall installers make between $39,000-$58,000 annually on average while those who hang sheetrock can do well at over $65K per year!

In conclusion

If you are a hardworking, talented individual who is looking for an exciting new career with great pay and benefits, construction may be the perfect fit. Whether you're just starting out in your professional life or have years of experience under your belt- there's plenty to do in this fast-paced industry that can offer something unique and rewarding.

The top five construction careers we've mentioned here should give you some good ideas if this sounds like it might be up your alley.

Want one last tip to get into the construction industry with zero experience? Download our Tradeworthy Jobs app today so that you never miss a company willing to train. It's free and available on both iOS and Android at: www.tradeworthyjobs.com/app

List of High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs in High Demand for 2021

There is a strong demand for individual workers who are willing to transition to high-demand careers, like high-paying skilled trade jobs. Let’s take a look at some of these fields that drive demand for the trade industry in 2021.

#1: Construction Managers

The median salary for a construction manager is $93,370! That’s some good money, right? It’s well deserved. You see, construction managers are responsible for nearly every aspect of a building project and often need specialized training or on-the-job experience.

They have to ensure projects are completed on time, according to specifications, and on budget.

Even more, they are many times responsible for:

#2: Elevator Installers and Repairers

This position makes an average of $79,780 a year and is in high demand! Knowing that elevators are human transport systems that can take passengers hundreds or thousands of feet in the air safely, gives a great amount credibility to the pay range of these skilled workers.

Working conditions can also be challenging for elevator installers & repair tradesmen. They have to crawl into cramped spaces or deal with great heights. With that said, elevator work is one of the most lucrative trades you can find.

#3: Landscape Architect

Who knew?!? Landscape architects can make an average of $68,230 a year!

Landscape architects design, develop, and maintain attractive and functional outdoor spaces. Jobs may be as small as residential home yards and as large as college campuses and large city parks.

These professionals may also be employed by large organizations, governmental organizations, private architecture firms, or work for their own businesses.

#4: Pile Drive Operators

Pile drive operators brought home an annual average of $63,770 in 2020 and that's set to climb in 2021!

While the role of a pile driver is very specific, their role is needed for a wide range of construction projects, which include operating massive machines that drive large pillars into the earth to serve as reinforcement or as a part of the foundation of piers, bridges, buildings, and many other types of construction projects.

That’s pretty important stuff, because it means the safety of human life, not to mention the long-term sustainability of expensive real estate.

There is a very high national demand for pile drivers. California, for example, has just about 500 pile drivers in the whole state. The top 10% of workers make over $100,000 a year based on the latest surveys.

#5: Electricians

Electricians earn an average of $55,190 a year and have been some of the most demanded tradesmen for the last century, that's some pretty good money for a trade skill!

Even with the many advancements in devices, appliances and electrical systems in homes and buildings, electricians have only gained more demand because all these items need maintenance and repair.

There you have it. These five trade skliis along with many others will continue to grow in demand and pay in 2021 and beyond, which means the need for your talent will continue to grow as well.

About Tradeworthy Jobs:

Tradeworthy Jobs was created to be different than other job seeking apps. We recognized the rising need for skilled trade workers to fill the void of steadily increasing labor positions and we have set out to create a platform that will allow employers to help fill that gap. We also see the need to provide unemployed or underemployed individuals with an employment opportunity but also with an opportunity to grow their skill set and increase their personal value. Tradeworthy Jobs helps you find the perfect job to match your skills or the perfect employee to match your needs.

Trade schools provide a fast track to success with lucrative career options and affordable tuition

In a time when college students across the nation face astronomical tuition rates/debt as well as an increasingly competitive job market, a trade school education can offer a faster, more targeted and more affordable path to career success for the right student. 

“Some people tend to overlook trade schools when they’re looking to start a new career, and that’s a shame because they offer a lot of advantages,” says Thomas Eastwick, president of 45-year-old Eastwick College, which offers specialized degrees in 25 fields at campuses in Ramsey, Hackensack, Nutley and Paterson. Among the benefits of a trade school education, “the programs are generally more affordable and take a lot less time to complete, enabling a graduate to start earning a strong salary a lot sooner and with less student loans to pay off,” Eastwick said. “In addition to offering excellent job security and plenty of room for advancement, trade careers can also be much more rewarding for someone who’s more hands-on.” 

Trade schools can also provide targeted education in high-demand fields. Specifically, “there’s a skills gap in the U.S. and, prior to the recent pandemic, we had more job orders from employers than we had graduates,” said Scott Shaw, president and CEO of Lincoln Educational Services Corp. (Lincoln Tech), which has New Jersey locations in Iselin, Mahwah, Moorestown, Paramus, South Plainfield and Union, and offers degrees in the automotive, skilled trades, health sciences and IT tracks. According to Shaw, “95% of the students at Lincoln Tech in New Jersey are enrolled in programs deemed as ‘critical/essential jobs’ by the Department of Homeland Security, which enabled many of these individuals to remain employed throughout the pandemic.” 

“As manufacturing begins to return to the U.S. — a trend expected to increase as a result of COVID-19’s impact — there will likely be an even greater demand for these types of employees,” Eastwick added. “Our goal is to help prepare our students for these and other trade career opportunities.” 

Students train in HVAC systems at one of Lincoln Tech’s campuses in New Jersey. Photo courtesy of Lincoln Technical Institute

Experts confirm that a trade school education offers other benefits as well. Among them, “our programs are accelerated so that students can complete their education sooner and enter the workforce more quickly, usually in under 13 months,” Shaw said. “Our faculty come from industry and share real-world skills with our students, which boosts their engagement with the course material and drives higher graduation rates than at community colleges and with much less debt incurrence when compared to bachelor’s degree programs.” 

With two convenient locations in East Orange and Jersey City, “National Career Institute (NCI) offers a range of courses that meet every individual’s needs, whether you’re starting a new career in the medical and trade fields or advancing your current career with additional national certifications that you can take with you nationwide,” said Dr. George P. Blount, president/CAO of NCI. With programs ranging from three to nine months and financial aid available for those who qualify, “NCI offers flexible day and evening class schedules and a career pathways program where you can earn your high school diploma and your trade certification at the same time,” Dr. Blount said. 

A student at National Career Institute trains in the electrical department lab at the school’s East Orange campus. Photo courtesy of NCI

The ‘Right’ Candidate 

In terms of the optimal candidate, “our students come from a variety of backgrounds, but they all share a drive to better themselves,” Eastwick said. “If you have a desire to work with your hands, a trade school track could be for you.” 

Shaw agreed. “Many students can’t see themselves working inside, in a cubicle, staring at a computer all day — they prefer to be outdoors or in a less-confining work environment,” he said. “Trade school graduates have high job satisfaction because they’re doing something they enjoy and are passionate about. They enjoy fixing, building or improving things with their hands or helping others.” 

Among the myths experts hope to dispel is that a college degree is the only way to achieve a rewarding, long-term career. “The conventional wisdom has been that you need to attend a traditional four-year college or university to get started in a high-value career, but that’s not the case,” Eastwick said of trade careers that can boast impressive salary potential and prepare graduates for management positions or business ownership. 

Ultimately, “our mission is to prepare students to meet the challenges of the rapidly changing employment landscape by offering skills, training and employment opportunities necessary to compete in today’s marketplace,” Dr. Blount said. “At NCI, our saying is that “a year from now, you’ll wish you’d started today.” 

For more information on Eastwick College, visit www.eastwick.edu. For more information on Lincoln Tech, visit www.lincolntech.edu. For more information on National Career Institute, visit www.nciedu.com. 

Here's Why You Should Encourage Your Kid to Go Into the Trades

Skilled trade positions are currently the hardest to fill in the United States and around the world.

The trades are definitely a solid path for anyone looking for a secure and profitable career. According to a survey conducted by ManpowerGroup, trade positions are currently the hardest to fill in the United States and around the world. Specifically, the top ten positions with the largest shortages include carpenters, framers, bricklayers/masons, concrete workers, drywallers, roofers, electricians, plumbers, painters, and excavators.

Younger people aren't pursuing careers in the trades

According to Jennifer Weber, EVP of human resources for Lowe's, the home improvement retailer conducted a survey which found that only 5% of parents in the U.S. expect their high school-aged students to pursue a career in the skilled trades. She also points out that the number of people showing an interest in a skilled trade is dwindling as more high schools have pulled back on offering construction-based shop classes. At the same time, 3 million skilled trades positions are predicted to be open by 2028.

The trades have a lot to offer

Consider a variety of opportunities, getting to work with your hands, high demand, good salaries, benefits and job security. That's according to Robin Fleming, cofounder and CEO of Anvl, a workforce first safety solutions software company, who says that because of the growing skilled labor shortage companies needing workers are motivated to recruit, train and retain workers and are offering competitive perks, benefits and salaries to fill positions. And because hands-on training often happens on the job, young people can quickly figure out if a path is a good fit and adjust if it's not. That's compared with investing four years into college to get a desk job which they may or may not like.

Jobs and training programs are easy to find

Weber says young people can learn on the job straight out of high school, or get some kind of formal training or certification before trying to get hired. For its employees Lowe's offers a "Track to the Trades" program which pays for tuition as they complete a pre-apprentice certification in carpentry, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and appliance repair. Once certified, Lowe's then helps them get jobs within its installation network.

In addition, Lowe's and more than 60 national partners launched a "Generation T" program earlier this year which aims to connect high schoolers and people wanting a career change with opportunities in the trades. At WeAreGenerationT.com anyone considering the trades can get information about what the work in a particular field involves, what the earning potential is and input a ZIP code to find nearby jobs and training programs.

Fleming adds that several U.S. legislatures are actively working to address the skilled trade labor shortage with a number of bills which were introduced in 2019.

Aligning Personal Purpose With Your Work

Brittany Bainum, founder of Tradeworthy Jobs, talks with NAWIC Today about her 15 years working in the construction industry, serving in several HR leadership roles, and how she is mindfully and intentionally breathing personal purpose into her career.

There’s a quote - “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.” When you talk about aligning personal purpose with your work, where does the intersection of “work” meet with “passion and personal purpose?”

Finding your passion and personal purpose certainly doesn't happen overnight. For me, it took more than two and a half years to truly determine my purpose. In short, I’ve identified my purpose as “to lead with joy and hope by serving first. I do so with honest love, responsible leadership, and championing growth.” What I pieced together was that I show up so that other women will show up. 

Your purpose can be simple to start and evolve over time as you do. Your first thought could simply to be a good mom or dad. That's purpose enough in my book! Then when things get nutty and feel like they are falling off track, you can recenter and point back to your original purpose. Next thing you know you’re pointing in the right direction again. If I'm taking care of my child the best I can, then I'm living my purpose. Your purpose could also be to be a strong office manager or production manager - to bring order to others' day. Move on that and I bet you'll find your day feeling and looking better than the one before - because now you're showing up with purpose and intention - and that's the magic behind the magician. 

When identifying your purpose it sounds like you need to be patient and have grace with yourself - which isn’t always easy to do. How do you give yourself the space to mindfully determine your purpose?

I recall when another mom colleague that I had worked with left the workforce. For some reason it was really hard for me to swallow. It had nothing to do with me, but all of a sudden I started to question my own efforts: Should I be working? Am I doing the right thing? She's probably leaving because it's the right thing. Am I good enough mom? And so on... Fast forward to my personal development with a coach, and today I'm 100% confident in the choices I make around working and having three kids. Do I need flexibility? Sure. Might it take me a minute to get unfrazzled from the doctor’s appointment, coffee run, and losing my keys because one of the kids left them in a planted pot? 100% But what I've found is that oftentimes, my superpower is that when I look around a meeting room with my peers in this industry,, not fitting the mold is actually the power in itself.  Being an outlier is not a bad thing. I bring a perspective, an angle, a thought that often many of my male counterparts don't have. So my purpose is around showing up and my passion is that you (as a female) will have the confidence to do so as well. 

Ensuring it’s authentic, where do you truly start? How does one breathe personal purpose into their daily work in a meaningful and not forced way?

As I learned from my work with Positive Foundry, an organization dedicated to teaching skills such as identifying your purpose, it starts with your strengths. List them, say them, know them. Need to discover them? Use a tool like VIA Strengths (Values in Action) as a starting point. But know what strengths you bring to the table. Questions to help you unfold them could be:

- How do you know this is your strength?

- How do you action this strength regularly?

- How do you use this strength in challenging times?

- What other possibilities does this strength bring you?

- Who else do you know with this strength? (either someone you know or someone famous)

Once you’ve identified your strengths, how do you continue to move the needle to identify your purpose?

There are a few steps that help you determine your purpose and will help you arrive at your purpose statement. The beauty of a purpose statement is that it’s one line, one action, one intent that only belongs to you. You can adjust it as you grow and evolve in your life and career - and it’s also your “guiding light” - whenever you need it, you can always find it as a reminder of who you are on this  journey and where you want to go. Again thanks to Positive Foundry, the actions are:

Know what defines you

To move forward you need to be in the right mindset - so think of a time when you were at your best. Close your eyes and think back. What were you doing? Who were you with? What was happening around you? And in the end, how did you feel? Who are YOU at your BEST? 

List your values

Start by asking yourself: “What are my values?” What did you learn from your parents, siblings, family? What are your cultural values? 

List of strengths

Next, go back to your strengths. List them out. What are you good at? What do others say you are good at? Why are you good at them? What gives you energy? 

List your passions

What are your passions? What are four activities that you enjoy? What do you really like to do? What did you really enjoy as a child? These are likely words that end in -ing. 

List your labels

Next are your labels. What are all the labels you've been given? Mother, teacher, runner, reader, etc. What things do you love to do? What activities give you energy? 

List your goals and achievements

What are your goals? What do you truly want to achieve? What do you want to achieve in this lifetime? What do you want to accomplish? Is it raising children, starting your own business, changing lives? 

Determine your legacy

Finally, what is your legacy? What does the world need? How do you want to make an impact on the world? What would need to happen in your life so you could say your life was 'well lived'?

It’s also important to note that as you work your way through these steps, you should continually be asking the question WHY. Why do you want to define your purpose? 

Once these attributes have been identified, how do we bring it full circle? 

We can find our purpose at the intersection of love, skill, and need. When we love what we do, when we know what we are good at doing, and identify what the world needs, there sits our purpose. Reflect on all the writing from above and then build a purpose statement. Why are you here? How can you impact the world? Nothing you write here can be wrong! It's a starting point and your purpose statement can evolve as much as you do!

It’s so easy to get caught in the grind...you go through the motions of work. How do you keep things fresh and continue to pump purpose into what you do? How do you adapt when things get stale?

I think the benefit of defining and knowing your purpose actually comes back up/proves its value is when things get tough. When the situation is too hard, or the feelings become overwhelming and all you want to do is throw in the towel - recalling and reflecting on your purpose is actually going to help you build the resilience to keep going. When you say, I can't do this anymore - your purpose says, here’s why you can. The number of times that shame has whispered to me, 'you're not good enough. you don't know enough' is uncountable and I think it's sometimes even easier to feel that way in an industry where women represent less than 1% while the national average hovers around 50%. So it's less a question of staleness and maybe more around, when will you really harness the power of your purpose?

You bring up a good point -- women need to continue to support each other in this industry. Our industry can be raw and real,  yet also so incredibly rewarding. How did you get your start in the construction business?

Construction is truly all I know. It’s in my genes. My dad owned a contracting company that specialized in drywall, floors, and ceilings. I remember walking into buildings and having him talk about the ceiling they did in it and the smell of new carpet is all too reminiscent of my childhood. He would bid jobs with colored pencils (and probably still does) and on occasion I would hit up a job site with him and hold the tape measure. A dirty warehouse with a two person office, a sample carpet room, and space for a receptionist/accountant has been part of my story since birth. To me it's comfortable and familiar, not intimidating.

The world looks very different than it did six months ago - including how we work. Despite tackling this new norm of balancing work, homeschooling and a pandemic, how do you stay sane and keep purpose top if mind. 

Truly, when things get tough, lean on your purpose for strength. Taking a breather and coming back to your purpose will always help ground you. A personal example, when I heard our local school district was doing a hybrid model with the lingering thought that the school year would actually be starting 100% online, I remember feeling completely debilitated. I'm a mom of three kids with a fulltime job with expanding duties and a start-up, how on earth am I going to do this? I gave myself time to feel all the emotions of fear, sadness, overwhelm, anxiety... where I landed was "I figured it out once, I'll figure it out twice" My purpose says I'll lead us through this - and that's exactly what we have to do. Most mom's are leaders at heart - just watch who eats dinner last every night (in reference to Simon Sinek's concept - leaders eat last). 

You are balancing not only your kids and full time job - but also a new digital start up called Tradeworthy Jobs. It’s a new tool and approach for the construction industry. What does the app provide its users?

We are on a new journey. Our intent is to shake things up when it comes to filling jobs in the construction industry. Tradeworthy Jobs’ ultimate goal is to serve both construction employers - and potential construction employees - and get to the future faster. Born out of the frustration with current recruiting methods and tools, Tradeworthy Jobs directly connects employers with construction candidates - truly adapting to the users needs. It’s new, it’s exciting and we are continually evolving and adapting to our users needs. 

As construction firms create positions, our job is to serve them to the masses. The Tradeworthy Job app also allows employers to build a comprehensive company profile, allows candidates to message employers directly and gives candidates the ability to build their own profile with their experience (almost like a LinkedIn profile for construction candidates). We are encouraging readers of Today to give Tradeworthy Jobs a try for FREE - check out TradeworthyJobs.com for more information. We hope you will join this journey with us. 

Byline bio

With more than 15 years in the construction industry serving in a variety of HR leadership roles, and a rooted understanding of the challenges connecting construction employers to potential employees, Brittany launched Tradeworthy Jobs - an app and web-based platform dedicated to bridging that gap because of construction employers and candidates. Brittany earned her undergraduate and MBA degrees from Capital University, where she also played on the varsity volleyball team. Active in her central Ohio community, Brittany is married to Jason and has three amazing children, Ellie, Hali, and Brock.

Skilled Trade Worker Shortage? Skip College and Learn a Trade

There continues to be an overall skilled trades worker shortage in America; or a skills gap. While getting your 4-year college degree seems to be “all the rage”, the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor & Statistics show that skilled trades such as welders and electricians once again top the latest list of the most difficult-to-fill job openings. According to the BLS, the median annual wage for all construction and extraction occupations was $47,430 in May 2019. That surpasses the median annual wage for all occupations ($39,810) by $7,620. That’s around a 20% increase.

The Trade Worker Shortage and Skills Gap

The lack of skilled trade workers has shifted from an emerging dilemma to an ongoing one. It seems largely the result of an educational system that continues to diminish the value and job satisfaction of working in the various trades. There is also a lack of communication about the benefits of working in trades and the often lucrative pay scales associated with being an electrician, carpenter, plumber, welder, etc.

Without serious influence and changes to how we view and run education, this ongoing “skills gap” can only get worse. This, in an industry already short on help. It isn’t uncommon to have a lot of job openings go unfilled for lack of qualified or willing candidates, even at times of high unemployment.

In a recent report by AGC and Sage Construction and Real Estate, 75% of those surveyed expected to add workers in 2020. The problem? 81% found it extremely difficult to fill open positions, and a majority anticipated even more difficulty in 2021 and beyond.

Skilled Trade Worker Positions in High Demand

The list of high-demand trade worker positions (and not getting filled) includes the Skilled Trades as well as IT staff, mechanics, nurses, and machinists. The Skilled Trades category includes, among others, construction workers, bricklayers, and electricians.

Based on this and similar reports we’ve read over the years, American employers seem to have more difficulty filling positions than their worldwide counterparts. This could be due to the American focus and glorification of college degrees and white-collar jobs. It often leads young people to expect a lot more for a lot less.

Making up for the Trade Worker Shortage

Companies, lacking enough skilled trade workers, turn to a variety of solutions when filling the skills gap. This leads to a need to deal with a two-pronged attack: losing workers to attrition and retirement and dealing with new workers who have less experience.

Many larger firms turn to internal investments to try and compensate. This includes using technology in new ways to reduce dependency on skilled workers or a depleted labor force; technology such as 3D printers, BIM (building information modeling) systems, drones, robotics, and more are often employes in an effort to slow this problem.

The other side of this involves changing construction methods to reduce labor. This may include pre-building components or the use of more serialized or simplistic construction methods.

How Do We Solve the Skills Gap?

  1. Encourage communication and education about the trades to young people, particularly at the middle school levels. You can do this by volunteering to speak at local schools or at your local school board meetings as an advocate. This really needs to occur before 9th grade when kids begin locking in plans to attend college.
  2. Spread the news to your friends and family. You have one voice, make it count. The trades offer a lot of job satisfaction. With the current deficit of workers, being a trade worker can help young people quickly earn decent money for a job well done.
  3. Educate young people on the true cost of college. College is for some—not everyone. On-the-job training and trade schools, however, typically cost far less than an average college degree. That even goes for community colleges. By entering the trades, young people can begin earning money sooner. They also pay down less student debt. Put it together, and they can bring their earned income to a much higher level more quickly.
  4. Hire young people and prepare your own company to educate and grow job skills. You have to walk the walk if you want the industry to change. Prepare your company for the patience, training, and programs required to encourage young people in the skilled trades.

DO YOU HAVE A FUTURE IN THE SKILLED TRADES?

The future can be built only by those who know how to build — and by “build,” we mean install heating, ventilating and air conditioning; flooring; appliances; and all the other modern amenities we rely on to keep our offices, homes, and communities running.

But by 2028, there will be an estimated 3 million job vacancies in the skilled trades.

Led by Lowe’s, Generation T is a new initiative that aims to close this gap by laying out a path to nurture the skills of talented tradespeople by connecting them to prospective apprenticeships and jobs.

HERE’S WHAT THE SKILLED LABOR SHORTAGE LOOKS LIKE TODAY:

69% of members of the National Association of Home Builders reported delays in construction projects due to a shortage of unqualified workers.

SO WHERE ARE ALL THE QUALIFIED TRADESPEOPLE?

Skilled trades professionals are nearing retirement. Nearly half of all U.S. electricians are projected to retire in the next 10 years with few trained to take their place.

As the next generation enters the workforce, the perception of valuable economic skills has shifted considerably. In many high schools today, you’re more likely to find a coding class than a shop class. But there’s no app that can compare to the human know-how required of an electrician or a plumber.

TECHNOLOGY & SKILLED TRADES WILL SHAPE OUR FUTURE:

The trades are just as vital to the future of our economy as tech companies. While startups might build their products in the cloud, they still need a physical space in which to collaborate, work, and bring ideas to life. That’s where skilled tradespeople come in.

DO YOU LIKE WORKING WITH YOUR HANDS?

If the thought of attending a four-year university doesn’t feel like the right fit, the trades can provide a valuable alternative career path. You’ll enter the workforce faster and find yourself on a lucrative career path. Opening your own small business is even a possibility.

An electrician’s median starting salary is $59,100 compared with the $49,700 median starting salary of a college humanities major

HERE’S HOW TRADE SCHOOL STACKS UP AGAINST COLLEGE:

You can earn a trade school degree and enter the workforce in just2 years.

College lasts four years and could cost more than $154,000, taking into account loans and interest. By that calculation, five years into your career, your net earnings would be about: $79,000if you’d gone to trade school. -$107,000if you’d taken the college track since you’d likely be paying off loans for years.

Over the long haul, a trade school degree or pre-apprentice certification in the trades has the potential to give you a leg up on retirement savings, too: You could bank an additional $22,000 in savings by entering the workforce two years earlier. [SOURCE]