The country’s lack of skilled trade workers is a hot topic, even reaching the editorial pages of the hallowed New York Times.
It’s a challenge that all contractors face as lost jobs begin coming back after the Great Recession. Fortunately, Sundt is making efforts and building projects to get more young people into the trades.
We opened the Center for Craft Excellence in Phoenix last year for those who are just getting started or are a little further along in their careers. The Center offers training and certification in a number of disciplines, from equipment operator and mechanic to industrial carpentry, pipefitting, ironworking, electrical, welding and millwright.
Our company’s recent donation to the East Valley Institute of Technology in Arizona and sponsorship of Arizona Construction Career Days has enabled our employee-owners to connect with high-school students who are considering construction careers. Getting recent graduates into the business is critical; the average trade worker is in his or her late 40s.
We work in partnership with school districts to construct career and technical education centers that offer high schoolers the chance to get a head start on a trades career. We have one under way in Wichita Falls and have completed three in San Antonio.
Speaking of Texas, one of our employee-owners there regularly makes presentations to elementary school children about the profession. You’re never too young to start dreaming about a career.
For more information about a career with Sundt, please visit our website or Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter pages. We’re always on the lookout for great talent to fill positions both on jobsites and off.