Competency Model Improves Training for New Workers
A "competency model" released on Jan. 12 by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Associated General Contractors of America give training centers, community colleges, and high schools in the United States clearer guidelines to train future construction workers. AGC said the model provides a clearer picture of the skills required to succeed in construction careers.
"The best way to prepare tomorrow's construction workers is to improve today's training programs," said Steven Sandherr, chief executive officer of AGC, when the package was released. "We want to make sure that new workers have the complex mix of skills and expertise needed to thrive in the modern construction industry."
The model was developed by the AGC Workforce Development Committee and the Labor Department's Employment and Training Administration. AGC and others say construction contractors are increasingly worried that they cannot find qualified applicants to hire. The new guidelines will make it easier for educational facilities to develop curricula that meet the needs of modern construction firms, and this will make curricule more consistent and valuable, Sandherr said. "The better prepared the workforce, the easier it will be for construction companies to deliver high-quality, low-cost projects that will get our economy moving in the right direction," he said.
To view the new Heavy/Highway/Civil Construction Competency Model, go to this site.