Steve Frey
Have you ever called a home repairperson or a contractor and left a message but never got a reply?
Did you ever actually talk to a person, and they said they would come by but never did—then never called back? Did you ever have a person actually show up but do a haphazard job? You’re not alone, and the problem may get worse.
According to the Washington Post, “In its 2016-2017 U.S. talent shortage survey, the global staffing firm Manpower Group reported that skilled trade vacancies are the hardest jobs to fill in the country. Skilled trades (electricians, carpenters, welders, bricklayers, plasterers, plumbers, masons and more) have maintained the No. 1 position in vacancies from 2010 to the present.”
This lack of skilled workers is a nationwide issue, including the NRV.
It seems that after the Great Recession began in 2007 new construction all but dried up, and there has not been a growth in the workforce to match the resurgent building boom.
There are many reasons for this: people changing jobs out of construction, some aging out, fewer young people going into trades and fewer workers in specific skill areas among others.
In recent discussions with two contractors, one in the NRV and one in the Tampa Bay, Florida market, both had the same thing to say about hiring and keeping help, especially young people: They lack a dependable work ethic, and many are involved with some level of substance abuse. Often the two are interconnected. Some workers are unreliable even to show up, but then when they do, they are not willing to do the hard work construction or home remodeling/repair may require. Again, that was from two outstanding, experienced contractors.
Yes, there are still many excellent tradespersons out there, but there are certainly fewer than just a few years ago.
Local school systems realize the issues, and they are working to develop those “soft skills” that students need to be successful. AOL Finance suggests 10 soft skills that good workers need to possess to be successful not just in construction, but in all 21st-century jobs: a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, excellent communication skills, time management abilities, problem-solving skills, the ability to work as a team player, self-confidence, the ability to accept and learn from criticism, flexibility/adaptability and the ability to work well under pressure.
All of these attributes relate directly to working with a construction or home remodeling/repair crew. Fortunately, these skills can be introduced, learned and practiced beginning in elementary school.
Career and Technical Education, or CTE, is a critical part of the school curriculum. Many school systems are expanding their offerings, and they are also working with local colleges like New River Community College to help prepare students for the working world.
At a recent Radford City School Board meeting, Dalton Intermediate principal and CTE supervisor for the division, Charles King, shared information concerning the program. About 80 percent of the approximately 500 students at the high school take a CTE course before graduating, so it is a vital component of the curriculum. King said, “No matter what their goals are, …they (students) realize the value of a CTE class.”
“We focus a lot of times on maybe Dalton Intermediate and Radford High School as…the CTE program, …but the CTE program in every school in Virginia is kindergarten through 12th grade,” King said.
He mentioned that in elementary school, they start talking about careers and the importance of discovering what students’ interests and abilities might be, so they can start thinking about courses they may want to explore in the middle school/high school program.
The school board just approved a new math textbook series that makes math connections to everyday applications, and the STEAM program ties science, technology, engineering, math, and the arts together with real-life activities, too. Plus, students are beginning to work on those soft skills. King is right: Elementary school is where CTE begins.
King went on to talk about focus topics in education such as Project Based Learning, relevancy of the curriculum, collaboration and team teaching and explained that many of the best examples of those concepts take place in the CTE program.
Some of the CTE projects in the works in Radford include building a robot for the police department, developing an off-road solar vehicle, having students help the city maintenance shops for real-world experiences, constructing storage facilities, building Chromebook charging units and working toward creating a tiny house.
At the end of the presentation, Superintendent Robert Graham mentioned that cybersecurity will be an addition to the computer portion of the CTE curriculum and that the welding program has one of the fastest growing enrollments in the state.
During the same school board meeting, the Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction, Ellen Denny, explained that the district is looking at a new schedule that would allow more time for business apprenticeships with local companies.
Radford and other school divisions understand the importance of CTE and providing opportunities for students to excel both in academics and in exploring different trade education possibilities.
They are creating courses and hands-on learning opportunities, sometimes in conjunction with NRCC, Radford University or Virginia Tech, so that students are well-prepared for the 21st-century workforce or the next level of education for certification.
They understand the importance of providing apprenticeships so students can apply classroom learning to real-world experiences and see their educational skill development as relevant and beneficial to their futures.
Finally, they are making sure students have internalized those soft skills such as a strong work ethic, teamwork, time management and others so that they are not only prepared with the occupational skills they need but also possess the perseverance, grit and mental attitude necessary to be successful.
There is always going to be a need for electricians, plumbers, HVAC professionals, computer technicians, healthcare workers, solar energy specialists, media production staff and other skilled tradespersons. School divisions like Radford and other NRV systems are providing students with the tools necessary for success both today and in the future.
That may mean that when you call someone about a repair, you will get a positive response and a job done well, at least here in the New River Valley!
Steve Frey is a writer and CEO of Ascendant Educational Services based in Radford.