Advancements in technology have changed the building industry and will continue the change it, which is why it is important to keep up with industry trends. Builders have a responsibility to expand and spread their knowledge to younger generations and get young people interested in the building industry. Right now, our society is experiencing a skills gap, especially in labor intensive fields as plumbing, electric, and yes, even the building trades.
You may know Mike Rowe from the Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs.” Aside from getting dirty and doing jobs that “make civilized life possible for the rest of us,” he developed the mikeroweWORKS Foundation to address the skills gap problem. Here is a short clip of Mike Rowe himself explaining the crisis.
So, what does this mean for Great Lakes Carpentry? We try the best we can to stay up to date with changes in the building industry, help educate other builders, and our children about the building industry.
In a previous post, we touched on what it means to be a Certified Green Building Professional. Under that certification, you must complete 12 hours of continuing education every 3 years from building industry- related educational activities. For example, I just attended an educational building session here in the Northwoods last week. The seminar was about building science best practices and was held at Northland Pines High School in Eagle River Wis. The seminar was hosted by the Headwaters Builders Association, where I currently serve as President, and sponsored by Focus on Energy, New Homes Program.
Aside from being part of the Headwaters Builders Association, I serve on the Carpentry Advisory Committee at Nicolet Technical College. The goal the committee is to provide direction to the educational trades department by getting input from professionals in the building trades industry.
If you are a contractor I hope you are doing your part in order to promote continuing education in the building trades. If not, I encourage you to do your part, get involved in the nearest building association to you.
Visit our Facebook page, website, and follow us on Twitter!
Great Lakes Carpentry 