In 1968, the Whitehill Report on Professional and Public Education for Historic Preservation raised concerns about a dearth of tradespeople qualified in historic preservation work.
As the industry continues to struggle with workforce shortages as well as increasingly inexperienced skilled laborers, relieving the strain will come down to the convergence of talent, technology, and training.
The building trades in modern America have long been a path to the middle class, and construction apprentice training provides more than a middle-class income. The jobs are a path out of endless financial worry.
Construction workers and site supervisors will get training for COVID-19 protection, the latest infectious disease for which the industry is ill-prepared, says NY Environmental Contractors Association chairman Morris Napolitano.
The commentary, “Keep The Rule Exemption As Is,” claimed that construction should remain excluded from the U.S. Dept. of Labor’s proposed rule on apprenticeship expansion because union apprenticeship programs set the bar high on quality training and earning potential.
Keep the industry exempt from a Trump administration plan to create private oversight of craft programs; the system works to prevent lowering the bar long set.
Last month, the utility Southern Co. sent its primary contractors a letter quizzing them on their level of worker training. The questionnaire is Southern’s first step toward prequalifying and hiring only contractors who invest in worker training.