It’s no secret that the construction industry has a shortage of laborers. According to recent reports, only one person enters the trades for every four people leaving today. Construction companies are hiring more people than ever for these great-paying careers. With our programs, we help many people prepare for when these companies come knocking.
Enter Deonte, a working father who was looking to find a better way to support his family. When his neighbor told him about our Highway Construction Skills Training (HCST) program, he was very curious and wanted to learn more. He met with our HCST Coordinator, Lorie, to talk about what he could expect when joining the program. Knowing that Deonte had a great work ethic and was excited to learn, Lorie knew a heavy construction career would get Deonte to where he wanted to be to efficiently provide for his family.
All throughout the 8-week course, Deonte came in every day ready to learn. No matter how challenging his home life was, he came in focused with a smile. “There was no big fuss, no hype. He just got it done,” says Lorie. With his near perfect attendance and his quick learning, Deonte passed the course with flying colors.
Deonte’s skills impressed many construction companies that he actually had a job already waiting for him once he graduated. Unfortunately, even though it was a great learning experience, the travel to and from work began to drain on Deonte and he made the tough choice to leave. This forfeiture left Deonte to hold a few different factory jobs while during the off-season. For some time, he was always hustling from one job to another, just trying to make ends meet.
It wasn’t until this spring that Lorie got an exciting call from Deonte. He was hired by well-respected concrete firm and was officially a union member! “Being in the Labor Union means I am making good money, have great benefits, and I can continue to keep my skills fresh with the workshops they offer for free,” says Deonte. “I love my job. I plan on being here for a long time. I feel so blessed and proud to be where I am at.”
Congratulations, Deonte! We’re so happy for you and confident that this is the first of many career advances for you!
Looking for a career with real potential, see how our Highway Construction Skills Training (HCST) program can set you up for success.
