By Recruiting Tradeswomen, Residential Construction Industry Leaders Can Expand the Workforce

WOMEN BREAKING BARRIERS, A REPORT BY MISTY FARRELL-PENNINGTON AND TEILACHANELL ANGEL, MBA, EXPLORES WAYS TO GROW THE WORKFORCE BY ENGAGING MORE WOMEN IN THE SKILLED TRADES

BTF is honored to announce a valuable new resource for builders and their partners, Women Breaking Barriers: A Guide to Recruiting, Training and Retaining Women in the Residential Construction Trades.

In a spotlight focus on The Builder's Daily, John McManus writes: “Boston University’s Misty Farrell-Pennington and Teilachanell Angel roadmap a helpful doable pathway forward for builders to fix skill shortages on job sites and other workplaces. Branka Minic's team at The Building Talent Foundation gets noted as a ‘backbone’ infrastructure, and lots of great case-study anecdotes could spark the phenomenon.” You can access John’s piece on “Breaking Barriers” here, and become a member of The Builder’s Daily by clicking here.

Carrier Foundation and BTF Progress Toward Creating a Sustainable Workforce

Earlier this year, BTF and the Carrier Foundation, Carrier's philanthropy arm, launched a strategic alliance to help the workforce of tomorrow discover fulfilling career pathways in the HVAC industry.

Carrier leaders David Meyers, Vice President, Distribution, Residential HVAC, and Mike Ackermann, Associate Director, National Accounts, Residential HVAC, reflected on their partnership with BTF and their conviction that building a sustainable workforce in residential construction is vital not only for builders, but also for national suppliers of choice, such as Carrier, who provide builders with equipment, supplies, and materials.

BTF Collaborates with M.T. Copeland, an Educational Provider of Online Training for the Skilled Trades

NEW PARTNERSHIP LEVERAGES M.T. COPELAND EXPERT-TAUGHT TRAINING COURSES AND BTF CAREER COACHING AND JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE TO ADVANCE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS IN RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION

BTF is partnering with M.T. Copeland Technologies Inc. (M.T. Copeland), a cutting-edge training platform for the skilled and building trades. The partnership will advance career opportunities for individuals in residential construction by leveraging the combination of BTF’s career coaching and job placement assistance and M.T. Copeland’s online courses.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with BTF to make our training more accessible and to leverage their network, platform, and Engagement Managers to help our students embark on exciting career paths in the industry,” said Gabe Jewell, CEO of M.T. Copeland.

Painting Contractors Association and Building Talent Foundation Collaborate to Strengthen Workforce

ORGANIZATIONS PARTNER TO HELP JOB SEEKERS DEVELOP PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND SECURE REWARDING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES WITH PAINTING CONTRACTORS IN NEED OF SKILLED TALENT

Painting Contractors Association (PCA), a trade association committed to elevating the expertise, reputation, and trust of painting contractors, and BTF are pleased to announce a strategic partnership focused on facilitating professional development and career placements with contractors in dire need to hire skilled painters.

"BTF and PCA believe that the painting trade offers rewarding career paths with growth opportunities. The partnership not only benefits PCA members looking to fill jobs but also positions BTF as a reliable provider of talent for companies actively seeking skilled workers,” said Branka Minic, CEO of BTF.

“Working together, the goal is to improve individual lives and meet the talent needs of employers, all while strengthening our communities and the economy,” said Julie Ethan, Education Program Manager for PCA.

With BTF’s Assistance, a Part-Time Retail Worker Launches HVAC Career with Steady Hours and Higher Pay

Rhiana Hydes worked part-time with irregular hours in retail until she was laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Desiring a career with steady hours, higher pay, and growth potential, she enrolled in the 10-month HVAC program at Florida Career College.

During the week of graduation, BTF arranged an interview with One Stop Heating & Cooling in Tampa, Fla. She started work as an HVAC Installer Trainee the following week. “I went from not having a job on the Wednesday I graduated, to working the following Monday,” Rhiana said.

The entry-level pay for her first job in the residential construction industry was 30% higher than what she earned in retail. After 90 days on the job, she was eligible for a substantial pay increase. 

Jolene Methvin, Regional Manager of Consumer Services at One Stop, said, “Rhiana is a hard worker and eager to learn.”

Industry Insights

​​A Look at the Rise of Accelerated Skills Training Programs for Pandemic Career Changers

At Valencia, enrollment in its five accelerated training centers has almost doubled since the start of the pandemic. Carolyn McMorran, Vice President of Professional and Continuing Education, says 90% of students attend the training center completely free. That’s thanks to CARES Act and American Rescue Plan dollars, along with state funding and business donations.

First of Its Kind Virtual Reality Training Aims to Help Growing Demand in Skilled Trade Jobs Amid New Infrastructure Bill

StrataTech Education Group, a leading operator of skilled trade schools, launches an all-new virtual reality training program called OcuWeld. The program, which uses Oculus Quest 2 technology, will be among the first to use this revolutionary technology for students to practice welding skills outside of the classroom.

Construction Labor Market Tightens as Job Openings Surge

The labor market continues to tighten, especially for the construction industry. The count of open construction jobs increased to 410,000 unfilled positions in October, the highest measure in the history of the data series.

Experts Predict what the Housing Market will Look Like in 2022

Expect a whirlwind 2022 for the housing market. Home sales are expected to increase another 6.6%, and home prices to rise another 2.9% on top of 2021 highs.

Construction Adds 31,000 Jobs in November

Construction employment increased by 31,000 jobs between October and November as nonresidential construction firms added workers for the third month in a row.

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