New Clay Construction Trades Program gets hard hat donation

        On Jan. 16, Associated General Contractors (ACG) of Northwest Ohio donated 45 hard hats to the new Career Tech program launching at Clay High School in fall 2020.
        The new Construction Trades Career Tech program is supported by AGC of NW Ohio not only through the donation of necessary supplies such as hard hats but also through time, with several members serving on the Clay Construction Trades Advisory Board.
        On July 31, 2019, the Associated General Contractors of America brought to light the worker shortage issue in the Toledo market:
        “The Toledo metro area was the fifth-fastest growing construction job market in the country during the past 12 months, according to an analysis released by the Associated General Contractors of America. As local construction firms expand their payrolls, the national association and its local chapter are taking steps to prepare the next generation of construction workers amid significant construction worker shortages,” said Brian Turmail, the national spokesman for the association.
        “As demand for construction grows here and in many other parts of the country, more firms are having a difficult time finding enough qualified workers. That is significant, because workforce shortages have the potential to undermine broader economic growth by, among other impacts, slowing construction schedules,” he said.
        Turmail also noted that the Toledo metro area added 2,100 new construction jobs between June 2018 and June 2019, a 14 percent increase. He added that the area was the fifth-fastest growing construction job market among the 358 metro areas the association tracks.
        “There are 16,900 people working in construction in the Toledo area today, up from a post-recession low of 11,100 in June 2010. More people are working in construction in Toledo than at any point since June 2000,” he added. “Donating supplies, providing leadership and mentoring are just a few of the ways we try to enhance our member’s future workforce.
        “We also launched an educational/recruiting program, Draft Day. Now in its third year, Draft Day touches nearly every school in Northwest Ohio and aims to educate students on career opportunities in the Trades. Draft Day 2020 is May 14.”
        Find updates at @AgcNw on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/AGCofNWO/.