Greater Houston Construction Careers Initiative

Construction Labor Situation Workload increasing significantly in East Texas due to new refining, power plant, LNG, ethanol & off-shore projects Recovery and rebuilding in hurricane impacted areas have and will draw labor away from Houston Aging workforce, average age around 50 Past construction image has been unattractive to young persons as a career choice because of work environment and wage and benefit levels. Traditional recruiting methods no longer work. Wages are rising, 20 to 30% higher after 2005 hurricanes.

2006 Accomplishments Revised Key Points of Agreement, including an increase in funding for CMEF to 6 cents on all hours. Implemented Basic Training for Future Craft Professionals, three classes held for 70 new helper- trainee recruits. Achieved a TWC grant through Lee College for $780,279 to train 690 incumbent workers between September 06 and February 08 Construction Expo and Craft Championship held at Lee College in October and 275 High School Students attended college craft training units, 28% higher than skills assessments, 1600 passing, up 50% over 2005 Over 200 Performance verifications achieved

Basic Training for Future Craft Professionals (Piloted at Lee College) Started in mid 2006 for the purpose of bringing new individuals into the construction and maintenance industry. Collaborative effort between Owners, Contractors, CMEF, ABC, and Lee College. Training includes NCCER’s core modules, soft skill training, basic safety, and a formal mentoring program. Class is designed for 25 to 30 students and lasts two weeks, eight hours per day. Students are recruited by Contractors and hired prior to training start. The Owners agreed to allow student, after completion of training, to work at site as craft helper-trainee

June Pilot Class - 23 of the original 27 Candidates are on the job and attending craft training classes after hours. August Class - 28 of the original 28 Candidates completed training and all but one are currently working on sites and attending craft training classes. December Class – 16 completed their two week class last Friday. Feedback from all has been very positive Basic Training for Future Craft Professionals

Construction Careers Initiative To further address the craft labor concerns a Construction Careers Initiative was Begun earlier this year as a joint effort between the Houston Business Roundtable (HBR), Associated Builders and Constructors (ABC) & Construction Maintenance Education Foundation (CMEF) A Leadership Team was created and Marketing, Recruiting and Youth Committees have been formed

Business Roundtable - Gulf Coast Workforce Development Initiative Meeting held in early October with HBR, ABC, CMEF and others to discuss how the GCWDI could be rolled into east Texas. GCWDI offered the “I’m GREAT” marketing program for our use and even indicated some funding could be expected.

The Construction Careers Initiative has since made plans to incorporate much of the marketing efforts and other concepts started in Louisiana and Mississippi into a new initiative now known as the “Greater Houston Construction Careers Initiative” Greater Houston Construction Careers Initiative

Greater Houston Construction Careers Initiative Process 1. Market for Construction candidates using “I’m Great” Campaign 2. Potential candidates phone into Call Center in Dallas 3. Call Center refers candidate to local WorkSource office 4. WorkSource pre-screens for interest, aptitude, reading skills, etc. 5. WorkSource refers likely candidates to drug test collection site and next convenient Basic Training class (must pass drug screen to take training) 6. Candidate starts training

Greater Houston Construction Careers Initiative Process 7. Student completes application for employment database 8. Student info entered into database 9. Potential Employers search database for new recruits 10. Open Career Fair held for recruits and potential employers 11. Student completes Basic Training class 12. Employers interview, screen, recruit and hire 13. Recruit starts career in Construction

2007 Plans Work with TWC to fund a multi-college training skills grant Work with the WorkSource to firm up screening process Finish developing recruiting database Develop an industry commitment to fund training not covered by grants (trainees must be employed through 90 days after completion of the grant). Develop commitments from industry to employ those who complete training (100 students per month, 1000 per year) Kickoff “I’m Great” marketing campaign (possibly at the March 31 OSHA Youth Rally)

Broaden Industry Involvement Currently only a handful of owners and contractors are involved We need more owners and contractors involvement in hiring these employees and keeping them employed (must be employed by a contractor to receive the grant funds for training) This is an opportunity to close the gap on resource shortages, let’s not let it slip by us!!

Questions