BUILDING THE FUTURE

As regional and national demand for skilled trades increase, so do the opportunities for our local future workforce in the homebuilding industry. Students who are considering their education plans should not overlook what a career in the building trades can provide. First line supervisors of construction trades have a median wage of $72,600 and the top 25% highest paid supervisors earned in excess of $91,310 according to a recent study done by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

With ever-increasing costs to attend a fouryear college and no guarantee of employment upon graduation, any student who is un- decided about college should investigate other alternatives. Those considerations can begin early with students who are entering high school. Our area offers high school students exceptional training in the building trades at Cumberland Perry Area Career & Technical Center as well as Dauphin County Technical School.

Robert Brightbill, Building Construction Technology Instructor at Dauphin County Technical School, shares his perspective on the subject:

“In the 20-plus years of my career as a teacher at Dauphin County Technical School, I have seen a lot of change. One of the biggest changes is the support that our students are now getting from their parents and their sending schools to come to DCTS. In the past, the focus was on pushing all students towards some form of post-secondary education. High School career and technical study options were often overlooked or thought of mostly for students that were not as academically inclined as some of their peers. I have personally seen that has changed in the last 10 to 15 years. So many Generation Xers went to a four-year college, graduated, couldn’t find a job that paid a life sustaining wage and ended up getting re-trained in a technical subject

From Concept to Reality…

Come see the Student Build Project at the 2023 Showcase Home and place a bid on the swing. Proceeds from the sale of the swing help support the Dauphin County Technical School Construction Program.

to find work. Their experiences helped them to realize there were opportunities in Career and Technical Education that they missed out on and that maybe career and technical training is the best track for some students. Businesses are realizing that too. I know that all industries are in need of qualified workers, but I am most familiar with the construction industry. The construction industry is ready and willing to hire entry level workers at a life sustaining wage. The work is hard, hands on, sometimes dirty; but the opportunities are real. Industry partners are stepping up. The members of the local construction community, through organizations like the Home Builders Association of Harrisburg, are developing new and innovative strategies to grow the local workforce. Companies are partnering with the local career and technical centers to provide job-shadows, cooperative education opportunities, and mentorship to high school students. These efforts create a direct pipeline to rebuild the workforce from the ground up. Other member companies are going even further. For example, Bob Means Plumbing recently partnered with DCTS on a project house. DCTS students are renovating a condemned row house in uptown Harrisburg. Bob Means Plumbing helped with the permits and the plumbing on the house. Students gained first-hand knowledge of how to install a drain/waste/vent system as well as how to rough in the water supply system in the house. In a few weeks, Bob Means will be back on site showing the students how to trim out the house and install all of the fixtures. This partnership is a perfect example of what industry and Career and Technical Schools can do together.

The Home Builders Association of Harrisburg has been partnering with DCTS and Cumberland Perry for many years. This partnership started with students building displays at the annual home show, erecting handicap ramps on featured homes and judging the annual Parade of Homes. There is a sense of pride that goes into designing and building projects of this scope and partnering with the HBA. DCTS appreciates the partnership that has allowed us to help our students grow in their chosen industry, or as we say at DCTS, “Find your direction.”

This year, the students from DCTS are participating in a Student Build Project for the 2023 Showcase Home by building an outdoor swing.

Thank you to the Student Build Project Sponsor!