NC Investment Map

Increased Construction Workforce

Develop a skilled construction labor pipeline (with a living wage requirement) to reduce the construction labor shortage and time needed to deliver new housing

PRODUCE MORE HOUSING ACROSS THE AFFORDABILITY SPECTRUM

Increased Construction Workforce

Partner with nonprofit organizations (e.g., YouthBuild), NC-based initiatives (e.g., NC Works), BIPOC-led businesses and employee-owned cooperatives, and academic institutions (specifically Historically Black Colleges and Universities or community colleges located in areas with a high percentage of historically marginalized populations), to develop a vocational/training program for construction workers and managers to help reduce the construction labor shortage and support faster construction of affordable housing. Support this new program by building partnerships with regional employers who can sponsor internship programs (like the Rose Fellowship in architecture) and ensure living-wage jobs/contracts for the newly skilled workers.

This promising strategy requires investment in: 

  • A construction workforce development program including curriculum development
  • Community outreach
  • Staffing
  • Programming costs
  • A construction workforce development program including curriculum development
  • Community outreach
  • Staffing
  • Programming costs

Evaluation of Promising Strategy in Initial Target Regions

Learn more about the Investment Map’s selection of Initial Target Regions.

There are three Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) in the region that are potential partners for this promising strategy: Bennett College, NC A&T State University, and Winston-Salem State University.

The region is expected to see a 7% increase in the number of construction workers needed to fill immediate construction jobs.

  • Additional construction training programs are available in the region. Metric = # of training providers funded (by type). Metric = # of BIPOC training providers funded (by type). Metric = # new training programs created.
  • Additional construction internship programs are available in the region. Metric = # of new internship programs created. Metric = # of internships provided by BIPOC employers. Metric = # of internships targeted toward BIPOC workers.
  • Additional living-wage construction jobs/contracts are available in the region. Metric = # of living-wage jobs/contracts created as a result of this project. Metric = # of jobs filled by program participants. Metric = # of jobs filled by BIPOC program participants.
  • The number of diversely skilled construction professionals per region increases. Metric = # of construction workers trained through the program. Metric = # of BIPOC construction workers trained through the program. Metric = # of construction workers trained by type of skills training (e.g. electrical vs. plumbing, etc.).
  • The construction labor shortage is reduced. Metric = % change in construction labor shortage by county/region.
  • The number of affordable housing starts in the region increases. Metric = % change in quarterly affordable housing starts by county/region. Metric = # of internship providers contracted on affordable housing projects.

There are a number of community colleges within the region developing and presenting a construction workforce development program. These community colleges are McDowell Technical Community College, Asheville-Buncombe Community College, and Southwestern Community College.

The region has no Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) with which to partner. Construction workforce development programs will have to partner with BIPOC partners outside of higher education to ensure the program reaches and engages BIPOC workers.

The region has a limited number of building trade employers.

  • Additional construction training programs are available in the region. Metric = # of training providers funded (by type). Metric = # of BIPOC training providers funded (by type). Metric = # new training programs created.
  • Additional construction internship programs are available in the region. Metric = # of new internship programs created. Metric = # of internships provided by BIPOC employers. Metric = # of internships targeted toward BIPOC workers.
  • Additional living-wage construction jobs/contracts are available in the region. Metric = # of living-wage jobs/contracts created as a result of this project. Metric = # of jobs filled by program participants. Metric = # of jobs filled by BIPOC program participants.
  • The number of diversely skilled construction professionals per region increases. Metric = # of construction workers trained through the program. Metric = # of BIPOC construction workers trained through the program. Metric = # of construction workers trained by type of skills training (e.g. electrical vs. plumbing, etc.).
  • The construction labor shortage is reduced. Metric = % change in construction labor shortage by county/region.
  • The number of affordable housing starts in the region increases. Metric = % change in quarterly affordable housing starts by county/region. Metric = # of internship providers contracted on affordable housing projects.

HOUSING PROMISING STRATEGIES

View other promising strategies for investing in NC’s food systems