Earn & Learn
Challenge
Residential construction cannot attract career-minded individuals, because there is no clearly defined career progression or standard on-the-job skill development. This absence of skill upgrading also negatively impacts the quality and productivity of trade firms.
Solution
Sector-wide partnerships adopts occupational role descriptions and career pathways standards. Trades engage in defined upskilling programs for their workers through “Earn & Learn” programs with community college partners.
Partners
Community Colleges customize their programs and schedules to align with employers’ incumbent workers upskilling needs
Trades commit to advancing the skills of their workers, and offering progressive career opportunities to employees
Builders have access to more reliable, and better performing labor supply chain
Benefits
Workers—access to skill development, career progression, and higher wages and job satisfaction
Builders—have access to more reliable, and better performing labor supply chain
Community Colleges—have a strong link to employers, to better understand their hiring needs, and align programs to those requirements
Trade Employers—have more productive and better skilled teams, leading to better performance and quality of project execution, and higher retention of workforce