“There are jobs available for every student who wants to work in construction.”
Construction is booming all around us, and the demand for a skilled workforce is as high as ever.
More than 22,000 jobs in the skilled trades industry are available in the state of Oklahoma, with a median hourly wage of $22.53, according to data from The Associated General Contractors. Couple that with an aging population and the amount of open jobs is projected to grow significantly over the next ten years.
"There are jobs available for every student who wants to work in construction," Carpentry/Cabinetry Instructor Bryan Kropfinger said.
Francis Tuttle is preparing students in the Carpentry and Cabinetry program for entry into the construction industry and an opportunity to advance quickly. From basic hand and sophisticated power tools, to proper use and procedures to connect materials and various components, students learn so they are ready to begin on their first day on a job site.
Whether students enter with some experience, like Landon Stewart, or with no prior exposure to construction, they progress from safety procedures and easy-to-follow, self-paced curriculum to complex decision making and skills-based knowledge, ready for the industry.