Building the Future: How One Colorado Program is Fixing the Construction Labor Shortage
There’s a massive shortage of skilled construction workers in the U.S., a problem that costs the industry billions and means fewer homes get built. But in Colorado, one program is tackling this problem head-on, starting right in the classroom.
A program called Careers in Construction Colorado (CCIC) is building a direct pathway for students to get good-paying jobs in the trades, and it’s already in 91 schools across the state.
This inside look is based on a fantastic report from Homes.com, which detailed how this 10-year-old initiative is creating the next generation of builders.
What is the Careers in Construction Program?
Started by local housing and contractor associations in Colorado Springs, CCIC is a hands-on program that gets students an early look at the industry. And it's not just a single woodshop class.
Students get to learn 14 different skill sets, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, and masonry.
But it’s more than just classes. The program, which has already had 16,000 students, provides a ton of support:
Real-World Guides: CCIC funds "career navigators," who are actual industry pros. They help students with resumes, find job-shadowing opportunities, and connect them with guest speakers.
Hands-On Learning: Students get to work. Anthony Lozano, an instructor at Florence Junior/Senior High School, says he builds a "crew-type mentality." He watches students go from not knowing how to drive a nail to being able to frame a house from a set of plans.
Long-Term Support: The relationship doesn't end at graduation. Renee Zentz, the program's president, says, "We want them to know that they have a home base when they graduate… This is a lifelong relationship.”
It's Already Working
This isn't just a "nice idea." It's getting results.
So far, about 2,500 students have gotten jobs in the industry after completing the program. Carson Magill, a junior in the program, said he was able to create a resume and land an internship with a construction company, and he plans to join a crew right after graduation.
The program gives students a real taste of the job. As Lozano pointed out, they "get to figure out if they really like going out there when it's 10 degrees and working out in the weather."
The big goal? To create a toolkit that can be used to launch similar programs all across the country, helping to solve the labor shortage one school at a time.
This blog post is based on findings reported by Elisabeth Slay for Homes.com.
