Only 16.7% of Zoomers (Generation Z; those born between 1981-1996) have expressed interest in construction as a career path. Internships are one way to address our biggest workforce issue (no workforce). Plus, internships can reinforce our biggest draw: Becoming an apprentice in the construction trade means you can earn while you learn.
You don’t have to be a Fortune 500 industry leader or a state governor to create and award scholarships. Something to consider for 2022 and beyond is creating a brand scholarship for one or more high school seniors.
A brand scholarship is used by many organizations as an advertising tool. In a local, community-oriented setting, a small financial award is also good advertising, but in our situation, it’s a way to guide talent toward construction industry companies – like your company.
In 2021, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster targeted $17 million for construction industry-related education. Workforce Scholarships for the Future offers scholarships that cover the cost of tuition and fees for students attending any trade school or technical college in the state. The scholarships are available to South Carolina adults and recent high school graduates. The scholarship requirements include:
- Completing 100 hours of voluntary time to nonprofit/public-service organization or employment or taking one financial literacy course plus
- Maintaining a 2.0-grade point average (GPA)
Construction-related scholarships could include:
- Carpentry
- CNC machining
- Drywall
- Electronics
- Fabrication
- Industrial/professional painting
- Masonry
- Pipefitting/welding
- Plumbing
- Robotic & electronic engineering technology
- Robotic/laser welding
- Roofing
- Sheet metal machining
- Welding/boilermaker training
…and more
In addition to construction careers, the South Carolina Workforce Scholarships can also be used for associate degrees and certification credentials for other in-demand careers:
- Automotive technology
- Biomedical
- Computer science
- Healthcare/EMT
- Information technology
- Iron/steel technology
- Manufacturing
- Medical
- Transportation distribution/logistics
…and more.
Construction Dive Associate Editor Zachary Phillips said, “The demand for construction workers has escalated for decades, and it has gotten to the point where some contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers will hire just about anyone with a good attitude.”
A good attitude among employees is essential when growing a successful construction business. But we need educated, skilled workers that take pride in what they do. Education is key to building our workforce.
Education is also vital to building business. If you want to learn about the educational tools available to you as part of Construction Monitor’s weekly data analytics, call 435-586-1205 or contact Construction Monitor.