Building and Diversifying the Trades Workforce

Many businesses are struggling to find, hire, and retain the next generation of workers. This session will help employers connect with training programs, understand barriers to employment, and learn how they can support new hires. Learn from graduates and teachers of training programs about the challenges and opportunities for people entering the construction workforce. We’ll explore common mistakes that employers make, what was useful about the training process (and what was missing), and suggestions for how to reach a broader pool of potential hires. We’ll feature Boston’s Green Jobs Academy’s weatherization program, Vermont Works for Women’s Trailblazers program, and We Built This in Maine and its carpentry workshops for women, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ folks.

Sponsored by:

Session Speaker(s): 

Kate Stephenson
Katrina Belle
Lily Lukaszevicz
Jason Taylor

Session Chair(s): 

Maria Washington

Event Time: 

Tuesday, March 1, 2022 - 4:00pm to 5:00pm

Room / Location:
Marina 2

CEU Information: 

Attendance for each full conference day offers 4.5 credit hours for both RESNET and MA CSL licensure.

CEU Credits: 

AIA: 1 LU
NARI: 1 Hour
PHIUS: 1 Hour

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the supports entry level hires need to successfully enter the construction workforce
  • Identify what skills are taught and what can be expected from program graduates
  • Analyze potential barriers that entry level workers experience in finding employment in the trades
  • Develop strategies for recruiting graduates of workforce training programs and entry level workers generally

Session ID: 

BOS22-317

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