NAHB is spotlighting career and technical education-related stories throughout CTE® month in February. 

NAHB members fondly remember shop class or their vocational education, which in recent years has evolved into Career and Technical Education (CTE). CTE encompasses various in-demand careers for the 21st century, including the building trades. A lack of skilled workers is a persistent challenge for the residential construction industry. NAHB’s national partnership with the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) will help address the pressing need for qualified professionals.

“ACTE is providing educational leadership to develop the workforce needed for today and tomorrow. We are so grateful for our partnership with NAHB and other employer-focused organizations,” said LeAnn Curry, executive director of ACTE. “Together, we work side-by-side to ensure America’s future and the future of individuals who will help drive our economy forward.”

ACTE is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. NAHB’s partnership with ACTE will:

• Connect home builders’ associations (HBAs) and member leaders to schools;
• Provide educators with access to industry professionals; and
• Establish relationships between students and educators with all levels of the Federation.

A critical partnership benefit for the Federation is direct access to ACTE’s vast network of school administrators and skilled trades instructors. NAHB’s workforce development team can connect any HBA to contacts at area high schools, community colleges or universities to establish a student chapter and introduce them to the Home Builders Institute’s Skills to Schools grant program and their nationally recognized, patented Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training (PACT) curriculum.

Schools that partner with an HBA will be able to expand career exploration opportunities for their students. NAHB members have worked with schools to generously donate their time for job shadowing, internships or apprenticeships, job site visits and guest lecturing, and provide funding for tools and equipment.

Beyond the classroom, schools can raise the visibility of their CTE programs by working with HBAs to prepare and send student teams to the International Builders’ Show to participate in the NAHB Student Competition.

For more information on NAHB’s workforce development national partnership strategy or to establish a connection with a CTE program in your community, contact Greg Zick.