Workforce Development Program Begins in Alabama

The Alabama AGC recently kicked off a workforce development program in Mobile to attract, train and retain workers at all skill levels and in many trades and make them available to employers through employee leasing agencies. The Alabama chapter is recruiting workers from Mobile and surrounding areas, assessing their skill level, providing drug testing, and, when applicable, enrolling new workers in a construction orientation class and an OSHA 10-hour program. The program also offers continuing construction trade education, which is offered through Bishop State College using the National Center for Construction Education and Research curriculum. Employee pay is based on field experience plus completed classroom work. Employees are placed in one of four levels, from common labor and to journeyworker. Here’s how it works for employers: 1. AGC and employee leasing agencies will market to potential employees to attract them to the industry. Rates paid to employees will be published for public information to help attract workers. 2. Workers will be employees of employee leasing agencies and all wages, benefits and insurance will be included in the rate charged to contractors. Rate charged to contractors also includes cents per hour to fund craft education. 3. AGC will publish rates for all contractors. Rates published to contractors will be proprietary and not for public consumption. 4. Employee leasing agencies will work directly with contractors to determine what trades are needed and when. Workers – skilled and unskilled – will be provided to contractors as needed. Here’s how it works for employees: 1. Applicants interview and are drug tested and processed by employee leasing agencies. 2. Employees are referred to the Alabama AGC office in Mobile for OSHA 10-hour, skills assessment testing and construction orientation class, as needed. Employees will be issued a card stating trade, skill level and readiness to work. 3. Employees will be offered a catalogue of construction education classes, to be held at three locations. 4. Employees will be ranked through four levels, with the final level being journeyman. Employee pay will increase as classes and on-the-job hours are completed. Level I pay for employees begins at $10 an hour and ends at $12, Level II begins at $12 and ends at $13, Level III begins at $13 and ends at $14, Level IV pay averages $20-$24 an hour, depending on trade.