New Collaboration Helps Job Seekers in Arizona, Florida, and Texas Acquire Skills and Find Job Opportunities to Meet the Growing Demand for Skilled Trades Professionals in the Homebuilding Sector
(Washington, DC) March 8, 2022 — Non-profit organization Building Talent Foundation (BTF) has announced a partnership with StrataTech Education Group (StrataTech), a leading skilled trade schools operator. The partnership will leverage StrataTech and BTF’s networks in Arizona, Florida, and Texas to bolster the residential construction talent pool.
The Waco Tribune-Herald notes that the real estate website Zillow places six of the 10 hottest housing markets in the United States in 2022 in Arizona, Florida, and Texas. In its Fall 2021 HBI Construction Labor Market Report, the Home Builders Institute (HBI) shows that the residential construction industry needs to train and place a daunting 2.2 million new workers within the next three years to meet the housing demands in the United States.
The partnership between StrataTech and BTF is designed to fill these workforce shortages. The organizations will work together to advance career opportunities in residential construction for StrataTech graduates by bringing them into the industry through BTF’s career coaching and job placement assistance. To meet the projected workforce demands, HBI’s Construction Labor Market Report also notes that the industry must recruit more skilled tradeswomen into the homebuilding sector. StrataTech and BTF will leverage their partnership to attract more women to bring their talents and skills to the industry.
BTF reports that the partnership with StrataTech is already helping people launch careers and fill the much-needed demand for skilled trades while also addressing the skills gap. Seventeen recent graduates from StrataTech’s Tulsa Welding School campus in Houston successfully secured job placements as technical trade professionals in the housing industry through BTF.
“StrataTech and Building Talent Foundation are well aligned to serve our vision of building a sustainable workforce,” said Branka Minic, CEO of BTF. “We serve the same communities and focus on successfully transitioning well-trained skilled trades professionals into rewarding careers. We are working to deepen our collaboration and jointly promote skilled trades to talented young people while also helping to fill the current demand in the construction industry.”
StrataTech strives to prepare their students to take on in-demand jobs through innovative, high-tech training programs based on industry and employer needs. Recently, StrataTech launched StrataSkills, a workforce development and retention solution for skilled tradespeople. The program aims to help companies upskill and reskill their employees to meet the changing demands of the industry. To bring more awareness to StrataSkills and connect more people with training opportunities, BTF will connect to StrataTech Education’s Tulsa Welding School, the Refrigeration School and StrataSkills from its online career platform, JobsToBuild.com.
“Demand for skilled trade workers is at an all-time high,” said Mary Kelly, President/CEO of StrataTech. “When you can meet an industry need, serve your communities, and facilitate life change through education, you have the opportunity to make a real difference. Through this partnership, we can make a difference in the construction industry and the lives of our students.”
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About StrataTech Education Group
StrataTech Education Group focuses on the education, growth and development of specialized career education schools, particularly skilled-trade programs designed to address the nation’s growing infrastructure needs. Holding an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, StrataTech Education Group’s portfolio includes The Refrigeration School, Inc. (RSI) (Phoenix, AZ), Tulsa Welding School (TWS) (Tulsa, OK), Tulsa Welding School Jacksonville (FL) , and Tulsa Welding School & Technology Center (Houston, TX).
For more information, visit stratatech.com.
About Tulsa Welding School
Tulsa Welding School (TWS) was founded in 1949 in Tulsa, Okla. and has trained thousands of individuals to become entry-level professionals in the skilled trades for more than 70 years. Students learn hands-on, technical competencies and skills in labs, workshops and classrooms, with a curriculum designed to meet employers’ needs. TWS offers Welding, HVAC/Refrigeration and Electrical related programs. Upon program completion, TWS graduates are equipped to start entry-level careers in a variety of industries, ranging from automotive to manufacturing. TWS is an ACCSC accredited school and licensed by OBPVS. For more information, visit tws.edu/student-resources/regulatory-information or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
For more information, visit tws.edu.
About The Refrigeration School, Inc.
The Refrigeration School, Inc. (RSI) was founded in Phoenix in 1965 and has been training students for sustainable careers for more than 55 years. Offering hands-on education with a strong emphasis on the highly sought-after skills employers seek, RSI’s programs include training in Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating Technologies, Electro-Mechanical Technologies (HVAC-R), Mechanical Maintenance Engineering and Welding RSI is an ACCSC accredited school and licensed by the Arizona State Board for Private Post-Secondary Education. For more information, visit rsi.edu/about-rsi/regulatory-information/ or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
For more information, visit rsi.edu.
About Building Talent Foundation
Building Talent Foundation (BTF) is a non-profit organization founded by the Leading Builders of America, 20 of the largest residential construction companies in the United States. BTF's mission is to advance the education, training, and career progression of young people and people from underrepresented groups, helping them develop into skilled technical workers and business owners in residential construction.
Follow along on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more information.