The Building Georgia workforce development program is launching in May, aiming to connect metro Atlanta residents with high-demand careers in construction and transportation. The program is being managed by the Atlanta Regional Commission, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG).
The program will offer free, hands-on training and career-readiness certifications for participants in the infrastructure and skilled trades sectors. The training will help to prepare participants for entry-level careers in the industry, as well as preparation for construction and transportation. The workforce for these industries has been for a number of years inadequate to fill the numerous positions and as career workers retire, this workforce shortfall is only increasing. According to Department of Labor data, approximately 56 percent of skilled trades workers are nearing retirement, with the average age of over 50 years old. It has also been estimated that 41 percent of the construction workforce will retire by 2031. Numerous open positions are becoming even more numerous. Without employees to fill these positions, the state and its economy can suffer. Major projects will get done but costs will go up.
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