According to the Associated General Contractors of America, 86% of construction firms in the U.S. are having problems finding skilled workers, including carpenters, equipment operators, and laborers. Sundt Construction does not want to be one of them.
The Arizona-based firm opened its own training center for craft employees in response to the labor shortages in the industry. Sundt’s Center for Craft Excellence, in Phoenix, offers training across many specialties, including equipment operation, pipefitting, mechanics, industrial carpentry, welding, ironworking, and electrical.
“Finding experienced people has been difficult since the economy shrank. There were a lot of people who left the industry and haven’t returned,” Sundt Craft Training Manager Sean Ray said in a statement. “This facility isn’t just helping us train the next generation of craft workers, it’s allowing us to invest in our people and the skills they use every day on our jobs. It’s a winning situation for everyone: our customers, our craft workers and our company.”
The center can also administer the National Craft Assessment and Certification Program (NCACP), and guide employees to attain National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Certified Plus status.
Related Stories
| Oct 4, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Methods, impacts, and opportunities in the concrete building life cycle
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Concrete Sustainability Hub conducted a life-cycle assessment (LCA) study to evaluate and improve the environmental impact and study how the “dual use” aspect of concrete.
| Oct 4, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Johnsonite features sustainable products
Products include rubber flooring tiles, treads, wall bases, and more.
| Oct 4, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Nearly seamless highly insulated glass curtain-wall system introduced
Low insulation value reflects value of entire curtain-wall system.
| Oct 4, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Ready-to-use wood primer unveiled
Maintains strong UV protection, clarity even with application of lighter, natural wood tones.
| Oct 4, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Two new recycled glass products announced
The two collections offer both larger and smaller particulates.
| Oct 4, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Mythic Paint launches two new paint products
A high performance paint, and a combination paint and primer now available.
| Oct 3, 2011
Magellan Development Group opens Village Market in Chicago’s Lakeshore East neighborhood
Magellan Development Group and Hanwha Engineering & Construction are joint-venture development partners on the project. The Village Market was designed for Silver LEED certification by Loewenberg Architects and built by McHugh Construction.
| Sep 30, 2011
BBS Architects & Engineers completes welcoming center at St. Charles Resurrection Cemetery
The new structure serves as the cemetery's focal architectural point and center of operations.
| Sep 29, 2011
Submit your Great Solutions
Profiles of Great Solutions will appear in December 2011 issue of Building Design+Construction.