Building the Residential Construction Workforce: Information for Employers

The Residential Construction micropathway at Seattle Central's Wood Technology Center is a new, training program, offered in the evenings and on weekends, that will provide a robust pipeline of talent for the residential construction industry.

Structured around HBI's Residential Construction Academy, in accordance with NAHB standards, the curriculum is designed to train new residential carpenters as well as provide formal, accelerated training for your incumbent workforce. The program aims to create a path for all—with a focus on people of color, women, and neurodiverse students—into the rewarding, living wage residential construction industry.

Ways to Participate:
 

1. Create a Tuition Reimbursement Program

Support your current workforce in seeking formal training through the Residential Construction program.

Tuition reimbursement programs increase workforce retention and assist with new employee recruitment. See templates from BIAW:

• Employee Education Assistance/Tuition Reimbursement Program Template
• Education Assistance Employee Agreement Template
• Education Assistance Employee Advance Form Template
   

2. Support the Learning

• Join the Industry Committee to support the program's ongoing design and fundraising (email Amy at amy@amyworks.com).
• Give student-workers access to skill building opportunities during the day; ask about what they are learning in the program.
• Help distribute the Part-Time Instructor Job Description to the building community to ensure highly qualified people are at the helm.
   

3. Spread the Word

• Share information about the program with employees in the field; encourage people to visit: www.seattlecolleges.edu/residential-construction