HOMEBUILDERS, MAYOR STEINBERG TEAM UP TO LAUNCH NEW REGIONAL JOBS INITIATIVE
New initiative aims to address labor shortages in the homebuilding industry
ROSEVILLE -
The North State Building Industry Association (BIA), along with Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, today announced the launch of its new regional jobs campaign, the 5Kin5 Initiative. Rachel Bardis of Bardis Homes and Nicholas Winn of Winsol Groundworks also participated in the launch event, held at The Mill at Broadway.
The North State BIA and its foundation, the North State Building Industry Foundation, established the 5Kin5 Initiative with the goal of bringing 5,000 new workers into the homebuilding industry over the next five years. At the launch event, Mayor Steinberg also stressed the importance of providing students with internship opportunities across a host of sectors, including the homebuilding industry.
"The economic decline a few years ago took a significant toll on our industry's workforce," said Andy Davidson, BIA Chair and Vice President of Construction with Anton Development Company. "With the housing market picking up steam, we face the very real prospect of simply not having enough labor to keep up with the pace of construction. This labor shortage is certainly bad for our business, but it could also put a dent in the economic momentum that's been driving the greater Sacramento region recently. The 5Kin5 Initiative is our way of addressing labor shortages and keeping the region on track for what we hope will be a sustained period of growth for years to come."
"This is the exact kind of initiative and investment we need to be making across the city," said Mayor Darrell Steinberg. "I am proud to support this regional jobs campaign because it sets forth the vision and commitment needed to develop, train and attract the workforce we need and is a great example of strong community partnerships. I want to foster this same kind of commitment and vision across our business sectors as we work together to invest in our youth and in turn, our city."
Key components of the 5Kin5 Initiative include (1) developing an efficient recruiting system to meet industry labor needs with 5,000 job placements; (2) enhancing the perception of "blue collar" careers to attract 16,000 new applicants to the industry; and (3) creating a real time reporting system that accurately tracks employer hiring activity and needs by working with 200+ employers in the region. Sponsors of the initiative include the North State BIA, the Bank of America Foundation, Blue Mountain Communities, Blue Mountain Construction Services, CalAtlantic Homes, and Hanson Truss Components, Inc. The North State Building Industry Foundation is also in the process of connecting with community and education stakeholder groups throughout the region to enlist their support.
"As a builder, I can attest firsthand to the growing concern in our industry surrounding labor shortages," said Rachel Bardis of Bardis Homes. "We have to act now to head off what could be a serious problem for our industry and the region more broadly. The 5Kin5 Initiative represents an industry-wide effort to effectively confront this issue and I am confident we will do just that."
"I'm on the ground everyday and its clear that we need more hands on deck if we're going to keep up with the housing market," said Nicholas Winn of Winsol Groundworks. "I think there's a misconception about the kinds of jobs in our industry. While they certainly require a lot of hard work, the jobs available are rewarding, well paying, and a stepping-stone to any number of great careers. I really hope people needing work in our region take advantage of this opportunity to get involved in an industry that has a lot of room for growth."
As part of the 5Kin5 Initiative, the North State Building Industry Association will also hold its 3rd Annual Trades Job Fair on April 4, 2017. To find out more about the Trades Job Fair and the 5Kin5 Initiative, please visit
biaworkforce.com
.
