An organization that works with contractors to find gaps in the labor market is recruiting Thursday in Madison for construction workers.
The Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership/BIG STEP program was first used in Milwaukee to fill manufacturing jobs during the 1990s, and has since expanded to south-central Wisconsin. Mark Kessenich, CEO and president of the program, said the construction industry needs a diverse, skilled workforce in order to be competitive.
“We look for folks who understand this is about a career,” said Kessenich. “This isn’t just about getting a job. The way apprenticeship works, in order to grow into a full-fledged journeyperson there’s a process. It takes years to learn, and there’s a large investment of time and training that goes into individuals.”
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The trades have been forced to step up recruitment because some workers left the industry during the recession and baby boomers are aging out of the workforce.
Recruitment is Thursday, Dec. 11 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Madison College South Campus at 2238 South Park Street.
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