Youth Initiatives

When it comes to career exploration for young people today, the construction industry suffers from a lack of exposure. The construction trades are an excellent option for young adults who are both capable of the rigors of the industry and who are seeking economic independence through a fulfilling hands-on, physical, family-wage career.

CAWS is committed to partnering and developing initiatives that create opportunities for young people to connect to the trades.

Working in partnership with local communities and key employers, CAWS facilitates communication between industry and school districts across the region.

CAWS Youth Initiatives

Spring Break Construction Camp: Trades Training for Teens

Construction Apprenticeship & Workforce Solutions (CAWS) is partnering with local Registered Apprenticeship Programs and industry employers to hold the first ever Trades Training for Teens. A week long Construction Career exposure camp targeted at local minority youth that will provide hands on learning opportunities and exposure aimed at introducing the rewarding opportunities that registered apprenticeships and careers within the construction industry offer young people today. Apprenticeship coordinators and training staff from local construction training programs will provide participants with brief overviews and information as well as hands on exposure to the different
trades.

Spring Break Construction Camp Concept Page - PDF

Top Jobs in Construction

CAWS is developing a Top Jobs for the Trades guidebook to be available through the CAWS Website, this guidebook will display the forecasted in-demand construction trade jobs for the next 5 years, providing youth and adults with information on projected openings, training sites, pre-requisites, potential wages, and training supports. This construction career guide will be made available to schools, career counselors, and CAWS partners. The guidebook is still in developmental stage, but will be made available by October 2009.

Summer Jobs “Construction Trades Exposure”

In partnership with NECA-IBEW, WSI’s Summer YouthWorks, PYB, YEI, and Oregon Trades Women, CAWS is investing in the summer work experience opportunities for 10 to 15 young people, to participate in a 32 hour pre-placement training provided by NECA –IBEW.  The training serves both as an exposure into the electrical trades as well as preparation for a 5 to 6 week paid work experience at one of the areas electrical contractors.  The opportunity provides valuable work experience and career exposure for young people who are interested in the construction trades.  The funding for the wages comes from the National Summer Jobs program with local resources managed by WSI. John Nelson of IBEW has been coordinating the outreach and placement to employers and has been instrumental in finding work experience slots for these youth. If successful this project may lead to a replicable model, and provide one more entry point into the trades.

Construction Foundational Skill Building

CAWS & WSI are working with Reynolds High School, Associate General Contractors, and Northwest College of Construction to Co-Sponsoring Construction Foundational Skill Building classes for 24 Reynolds Highschool Sophomores that will lead to achieveing welding certification and prepare them to transition into the ACE Academy as Juniors. Classes begin in September and will run the entire school year.