The construction industry needs skilled workers and many are interested in landing good-paying jobs in the field. But somehow there is often a disconnect between those who want a career in construction and employers looking for workers.
Towards Employment is holding the Pathways to Construction Job Fair noon to 3 p.m. July 30th at the nonprofit organization’s office, 3301 St. Clair Ave, Cleveland. Both job seekers and employers can register for the event by clicking this link. Employers who will be at the job fair are listed below.
Ronnie Cannon, senior manager of community engagement at Towards Employment, decided to help organize the job fair after people frequently told him they wanted a construction job, but didn’t know how to land one. The nonprofit focuses on workforce development, especially for job seekers facing barriers to employment, such as individuals with justice system involvement.
Dead-end jobs are plentiful and abundant. You can be there for the next 15 years and not have any growth opportunities. We want to connect people with career opportunities where they can grow so that they can benefit themselves and their families.”
Ronnie Cannon, senior manager of community engagement at Towards Employment
“It’s been my experience that people just want to know how to get connected,” he said. “They want to get connected with the different unions. They want to know what skill set is needed to get a construction job. You would think that you could do a google search and find out whose hiring, but it is a more daunting process than that.”
The job fair is designed to help people with an interest in construction, who need training, and those with the qualifications to get hired. In fact, some employers will be conducting interviews. Towards Employment is also motivated to hold the Pathways to Construction Job Fair because it is part of the Built Environment Collaborative, a $10 million federally funded initiative. The focus includes offering free and low-cost training programs aimed at getting Cleveland residents jobs in construction, infrastructure and the clean energy industry.
Companies attending the Pathways to Construction Job Fair
These are employers and organizations that have registered for the job fair so far:
- ACTION Community Outreach Inc.
- C&K Industrial Services Inc.
- City of Cleveland, Department of Building and Housing
- City of Cleveland Mayor’s Office of Equal Opportunity
- Cleveland Builds (part of the Built Environment Collaborative)
- Cleveland Neighborhood Progress (Part of the Built Collaborative)
- Creative Home Maintenance
- Educational Opportunity Center at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C is part of the Built Environment Collaborative)
- Howse Solutions
- Integrated Restoration
- Marous Brothers Construction
- Project Community Capital (PCC)
- SHARP HR LLC
- The Centers – El Barrio Workforce Program
- The Ohio Department of Natural Resources
- The Spanish American Committee (Part of the Built Environment Collaborative)
Members of the Built Environment Collaborative that will be at the job fair, include:
- ACE Mentor Program
- Contractors Assistance Association,
- Greater Cleveland Partnership
- HHW Ohio (formerly Hard Hatted Women)
- Rid-All Green Partnership
- United Labor Agency
- Urban League of Greater Cleveland
- Youth Opportunities Unlimited.
The job fair will include “a fireside chat” with construction professionals, who will discuss their experiences in the field. Participants will be able to attend sessions on improving resumes and Towards Employment and The Centers will provide interview coaching.
It is important to hold a job fair for in-demand industries, Cannon said. The construction industry will need to attract an estimated 439,000 new workers in 2025 to meet anticipated demand, according to research by Associated Builders and Contractor, a national construction industry trade association.
The goal is to prepare people for careers and not just jobs, Cannon said. It has been his experience that having a career path is especially crucial for the formerly incarcerated because it helps reduce recidivism.
“Dead-end jobs are plentiful and abundant,” he said. “You can be there for the next 15 years and not have any growth opportunities. We want to connect people with career opportunities where they can grow so that they can benefit themselves and their families.”