PROVIDENCE – The state is expanding the Real Jobs Rhode Island program to cater to commercial construction employers, Gov. Gina M. Raimondo announced Monday.
The R.I. Department of Labor and Training will convene stakeholders in the commercial construction industry over the next few months to identify employer demands for a program to train commercial construction workers.
Rhode Island's Market Has Changed. Developers, Builders, Investors and Sellers Must Change With It.
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The governor’s office said that construction employment is expected to increase 13.8% by 2026 in the state and will need trained workers to fill the estimated 26,000 new jobs.
“Thanks to major investments we’ve made to repair our crumbling infrastructure and school buildings, Rhode Island’s commercial construction workforce is growing at an unprecedented rate,” said Raimondo in a statement. “Our new initiative with Real Jobs Rhode Island will create a pipeline of skilled Rhode Island workers to fill the good, family-supporting jobs we’re creating. This announcement represents the best of what can happen when the private and public sectors come together.”
The governor made the announcement at the Statehouse joined by the Associated General Contractors of Rhode Island, Construction Industries of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Building Construction Trades. Also in attendance were U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse.
“We need to raise the profile of construction as a profession, or we won’t have enough skilled workers to fill the demand. In addition to providing wages and benefits well above many other careers, construction is a profession committed to safety, training, diversity and advancement,” said John Sinnott, president of Associated General Contractors of Rhode Island in a statement. “Ultimately, it will cost taxpayers and shareholders more to build commercial buildings if there is not an adequate workforce. Without an integrated effort including industry, labor, educators, government and community officials, we won’t be able to recruit effectively, nor will we be able to leverage current training programs and new opportunities for funding.”
The Real Jobs RI program already had partnerships in the following fields:
- Defense
- Technology
- Finance
- Aquaculture
- Construction
- Commercial fishing
- Energy
- Offshore wind
- Food manufacturing and service
- Health care
- Transportation
- Social enterprise
- Manufacturing
- Marine trades and composites
- Design
- Hospitality
