14
Texas Association of Builders
November/December 2015
Feature
EDUCATING AND MENTORING OUR FUTURE WORKERS
In 2013, the Texas Legislature passedHouse Bill 5, the comprehensive
education reform bill, that gives high school students a choice in
their post-graduation path, allowing them to prepare for college,
or choosing elective courses that prepare them for employment
immediately upon graduation from high school by, for example,
earning construction industry or trade certifications. This year, the
84th Texas Legislature passed and the Governor signed into law,
House Bill 18 and House Bill 505 that removed the dual credits cap,
thereby allowing students the opportunity to graduate from high
school with not only an industry or trade certification, but with an
Associate Degree.
The challenge that the building industry faces in this regard is that
our high schools are not required to include construction courses
in their curriculums; schools are mandated to choose at least one of
five “endorsements.” The Business and Industry endorsement under
which construction falls is
one
of the five choices.
Each year, the Texas Builders Foundation announces its scholarship
application period to over 80 post-high school institutions in
Texas that offer construction related training programs. In 2015,
however, we were surprised that the interest from applicants for our
scholarships was not what we expected, considering our industry’s
demand for educated and skilled workers. (Qualified applicants
must be enrolled in a building industry related program and indicate
a desire to enter the construction workforce upon graduation.) This
clearly indicates that the residential building community must
become an advocate for its industry by educating young people
on the great career opportunities that exist in construction, the
ability to earn a construction industry or trade certification or
even Associates Degree in two years or less without the burden of
excessive student loan debt, and the availability of well-paying jobs
upon graduation.
Table 2 shows starting wages for many entry-level jobsite occupations,
many of which have a critical shortage of skilled workers.
Members of the Texas Association of Builders – builders, remodelers,
developers, craftsmen and trades professionals – are in a unique
position to make an impact on and a true investment in the future
of our industry and your business by establishing mentoring and/or
internship programs where experienced professionals can help grow
the next generation of a skilled construction workforce. The average
employee stays at their job for 4.4 years, but the expected tenure of the
construction workforce’s younger employees is half that. It has been
proven, however, that internships, training and mentoring programs
are cost-effective solutions to retaining – and recruiting – young craft
professionals (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
HOW OUR HBAS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE
The Hill Country Builders Association (HCBA) has begun a
“Tradesmen Are Real” campaign, selecting their poster men and
women from the volunteers that work on their Trades Committee.
They are active throughout the HCBA, have come up through the
trades, and they want to share their successes with future generations
who can continue the legacy that tradesmen are cool, real and
successful. The campaign is geared toward 8
th
–12
th
grade students and
gives them a real view of the lives that the men and women in trades
lead – fun, successful, profitable and meaningful lives.
Toy Wood, Vice President and CEO of the Greater Houston Builders
Association (GHBA), GHBA volunteers and staff have visited with
the vast majority of area community colleges and technical high
schools within the local ISD systems. Most everyone they talked
with would be willing to add construction trades programs to their
curriculums, but there must be a commitment from the building
industry to provide internships, participate in job fairs, and serve
as guest speakers to talk about the industry as a professional career
choice. “There is no magic bullet. This is a difficult, frustrating
process, but we must begin, get organized, and get a program started
where we are partnering with…willing institutions in a meaningful
way,” said Wood. “This is a complex puzzle, and we are, or should
be, a big part of the solution.”
Table 2:
2014 Average Annual Wages for Construction
Specialty Trade Contractors in Texas
Brickmasons & Blockmasons
$39,291
Carpenters
$32,968
Tile & Marble Setters
$32,968
Cement Masons & Concrete Finishers
$30,451
Construction Laborers
$27,997
Equipment Operators
$37,523
Drywall & Ceiling Tile Installers
$31,741
Electricians
$43,077
Glaziers
$36,067
Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling & Wall
$31,283
Painters
$32,178
Pipelayers
$34,424
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters
$42,515
Plasterers & Stucco Masons
$36,650
Roofers
$29,619
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
