COVER STORY
Veterans in the ACS program get in-the-field experience practicing on a tower structure.
By Lucy Perry
EXPAND ENGAGEMENT
to improve your
EMPLOYEE PIPELINE Tips to rejuvenate workforce development in 2020
T
here’s a lot more to recruiting and retaining a strong talent pool than participating in a job fair or posting an ad to a job board. Although those are both essential activities, here’s a deeper dive to attract young people entering the market, retraining workers, and holding on to the ones you’ve got. Successful workforce development programs are like any other organizational initiative that depends on engagement, believes Katrina Kersch, COO of NCCER. “They need to be continually reinvented and refreshed. In fact, established programs should be annually evaluated for effectiveness,” she says. Among the areas Kersch suggests employers should look are how your marketing and communications plans supports your efforts, whether employees are recognized and rewarded, and if frontline supervisors are committed to promoting development opportunities. Good technical skills curriculum is only component to a thriving program. “Long-term success is determined by the supporting framework,” she says.
Build partnerships with schools
Girls Can is an annual construction camp that introduces skilled trades to 8th to 10th grade female students. These students learn about welding at the camp held at Shelby County (Ala.) Career Technical Educational Center. Photo Credit: Ivana Hrynkiw
Lucy Perry operates WordSkills Editorial Services in Kansas City, Missouri. She can be reached at wordskillseditor@gmail.com. 28 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
According to data from the Associated General Contractors, its members are playing a more active role with schools to interest young people in construction. “There are fewer people getting exposed to construction careers and the pursuit of them these days,” says Brian Turmail, vice president of public affairs and strategic initiatives. “Steel erection requires a lot more skills than other types of labor, so it’s particularly important for firms to realize they’re going to have to do a lot more to train and prepare workers.” Facing this issue head-on, contractors are getting knee-deep into academics, he says. “They’re not just showing up for career fairs, but helping organize them at construction sites or training facilities. They’re lending materials and allowing staff to come in and provide high-level
