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As I mentioned in my March column, there are nearly 110,000 workers employed in the construction industry in Oregon (www.qualityinfo.org), and the outlook continues to be positive.

Over one-fifth of those workers are over the age of 55 and will retire within the next decade, according to Clackamas Workforce Partnership. With this looming decline in available workers, AGC worked with the governor鈥檚 office in Oregon to proclaim October 鈥淐areers in Construction Month 鈥� to increase public awareness and appreciation of construction craft professionals and the entire construction workforce,鈥� to promote the hard work and dedication of craft workers, and narrow the skills gap by guiding youth and displaced workers into opportunities that lead to 鈥渞ewarding, long-term, high-wage and high-demand careers in construction.鈥�

Throughout October and into November there were several events that included employers, training programs, associations and schools that were designed to raise awareness of the vast opportunities within construction and other employment sectors, and the skills needed to enter those careers. National Manufacturing Week took place Sept. 30鈥揙ct. 4, and nearly 1,500 students were exposed to the many and varied positions within this economic sector. Field trips, classroom speakers, and small group job shadows around the state made students aware of opportunities they may not have considered previously.

National Apprenticeship Week (Nov. 11鈥�15) concluded recently, and once again students and instructors around the state visited employers and training centers, and invited speakers into their schools.

Rosendin Electric in Hillsboro is very invested in the future workforce. It invites schools in to hear an overview of the company, take a tour of its Building Information Modeling (BIM) lab, hear from employees about their pathways, and use virtual reality to see wires along with a hands-on project.

On Oregon鈥檚 north coast, EC Companies will be sending employees to Neah-Kah-Nie High School to discuss their career pathways and the skills needed to become an electrician. The Pacific Northwest Carpenters Institute will host several groups of students to learn about carpentry through a tour and hands-on project.

These are just a few of the many outreach efforts that employers and training centers around the state will be doing to inform students about careers in the industry specifically, but also skills needed, in general, to enter the workforce.

In addition to a focused week of information, high schools around the state are partnering with registered pre-apprenticeship programs to prepare students for apprenticeships in conjunction with community colleges. According to Megan Cogswell, director of apprenticeship at Chemeketa Community College, the Chemeketa Pre-Apprenticeship Program, approved by the BOLI Apprenticeship and Training Division, is active in 10 high schools in the mid-Willamette Valley and prepares students for registered apprenticeship and skilled trade careers. Their apprenticeship program supports four registered apprenticeships in a variety of ways: Mid-Valley Sheet Metal; Mid-Valley HVAC/R; training courses for plumbing apprentices registered with Area II Plumbers JATC; and related training coordination with IEC Oregon inside wire electrical apprentices.

Chemeketa is committed to recruiting diverse populations into the skilled trades and hosts groups of all ages in its Trades Information Center at its Salem campus. Chemeketa will be offering a winter Trades Skills Fundamentals class, including hand tool use, power tool use, blueprint reading, jobsite safety, and employability skills. Students will take first aid, CPR and OSHA 10 training, and there will be employers and job placement specialists to guide students in job searches and application at the end of the course.

Workforce partners around the state also recognize that the emerging workforce needs to be 鈥渟killed up,鈥� and are collaborating with employers to introduce desired skills, and to help them understand how best to mentor and train workers. Clackamas Workforce Partnership is holding a one-day summit for employers on how they can benefit from hosting student interns. Elevate Lane County recently held a similar summit connecting educators and employers. Clatsop Works is yet another workforce investment board that has collaborated with local schools and employers to bring students into summer employment while providing entry-level employability skills.

The challenge for employers has been finding a workforce ready for employment with technical and work-readiness (employability) skills. It is encouraging that these collaborations and partnerships are being carried out across the state. With the anticipated retirement of a huge segment of the workforce over the next seven to 10 years, it is vital that we work together to expose, inform and train the incoming workforce.

Mike Salsgiver is the executive director of Associated General Contractors鈥� Oregon-Columbia chapter. Contact him at 503-685-8305 or [email protected].