This report examines the characteristics of the labor market in the construction industry and its problems in manpower development and utilization. The basic problem is the "boom or bust" nature of the industry and its fluctuating demand for labor, varying with the seasons and also with the level of construction activity. Problems discussed in the…

When changing technology required that workers in the unionized sector of the British Columbia Construction Industry be able to read more difficult materials than had previously been necessary and to use complex mathematical concepts on the job, it became evident that a new approach was called for, and SkillPlan was developed in March 1991 to…

This guide is intended to help in the active recruitment and training of women for nontraditional occupations in the skilled trades and technical fields by providing information for young women, guidance for educators and counselors, and resources for both new and experienced workers. Chapter 1 defines nontraditional jobs and spells out why women…

From preservation of historical monuments to repair of existing buildings, architectural heritage seems to be a market with a future for France's building industry. The public's enthusiasm, along with greater appreciation of the "value" of cultural goods and their integration into a framework of economic development offer a favorable…

This booklet presents 12 examples of innovative initiatives to skill shortages nationwide. The description of each one provides this information: the challenge, partners, the story, and contacts with addresses and telephone numbers. The initiatives are Communications Workers of America and Cisco Systems: Military to Work Project; Knowbility and…

This monograph focuses on job training delivered through employer-sponsored cooperative apprenticeships with the community college. Following an introduction, chapter 2 looks at job training and cooperative apprenticeships, including recent legislative efforts to promote linkages and cooperative apprenticeships through tech prep initiatives.…

Part of a project to expand and improve the occupational options of low-income women, this program model (one of thirty nationwide) describes classroom training and work experience in the building maintenance skilled trade areas (maintenance and repair of electrical machinery, construction carpentry, plastering, painting, and papering). Part I, an…

The benefits of sectoral workforce development programs to the working poor were examined in a 3-year longitudinal study of participants in six sectoral employment training programs across the United States. The programs, which were all designed to serve low-income clients, provided training in a diverse set of industries, including the following:…

The Learning Enrichment Foundation (LEF) in Toronto, Ontario (Canada) offers 12 targeted training programs that have successfully helped "hard-to-serve" clients return to the workforce. Compared with traditional training, targeted training has a much narrower focus and adapts quickly to industry trends to meet employers' changing…

When deciding how to compete in the new global economy, employers can opt for "low-road" strategies such as low wages and no job security. Alternatively, they can choose the "high road" and compete by offering quality goods and services, innovation, and value. Fourteen successful "high-road" partnerships were examined…