News

ABC Member Company Employees Talk Workforce Development on CNBC

November 7, 2018

Eugene Jowers, a Project JumpStart graduate and employee of ABC member Regional Contracting Services, was featured in a Nov. 2 CNBC segment that also ran on PBS Nightly Business Report highlighting ABC’s efforts to attract more workers to the construction industry. 

Project JumpStart, a partnership between the Job Opportunities Task Force and ABC’s Baltimore Metro Chapter, trains and places city residents who are interested in pursuing well-paying jobs in the construction industry. ABC and its members are working to promote the message that fulfilling careers in construction are available for women, minorities, veterans, students, non-graduates and people seeking new careers, re-entry to the workforce or a second chance at achieving the America dream—with or without college degrees. 

Larry Lopez, president of Green JobWorks and ABC Diversity Committee chair, currently needs to hire 20 skilled full-time workers to keep up with demand for staffing and cleaning services and demolition jobs. Lopez is trying to attract talent by promoting the company’s employee benefits, including paid time off and health insurance programs. Lopez says providing attractive benefits is critical to the success of his company. 

Mike Bellaman, president and CEO of ABC, was also interviewed in the segment about the benefits of choosing a career in construction. “We will teach you the trade you want to learn, we will pay you while you do that, and when you graduate from that competency-based or time-based apprenticeship program, you’ll be making a great living,” he said. 

Jowers, Lopez and Bellaman were also featured in an article on CNBC’s website.

ABC, employees like Jowers and leaders like Lopez are working towards building the construction workforce of the future in an industry that is constantly searching for talent. The U.S. construction industry added 30,000 jobs last month, but there are currently more than half a million positions available and waiting to be filled. 

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