Nuts & Bolts Staff
Employment vacancies in the skilled trades sector are one of the hardest to fill, and it’s changing the way businesses seek out their employees—often, to the worker’s benefit.
It’s a reality that Ellis Construction is already addressing.
”We’ve had to utilize a very comprehensive approach when it comes to recruitment,” said Andrew Halverson, vice president of Ellis. “We’re ‘farming’ rather than ‘hunting’ employees.”
Halverson said the company regularly visits local high schools to discuss the benefits of working in the skilled trades—jobs requiring specialized training in carpentry, masonry, electrician, and other skills often requiring on-the-job training and vocational education—but often do not require a bachelor’s degree. The Student Learner Program was created by the state in 2017 to address a worker shortage and allows qualifying students as young as 16 to work in jobs typically off-limits to someone so young.
“They get right in there, doing a lot of the same work as a traditional employee,” Halverson said. “Their experience is often the same as a full-time worker, with a heavy emphasis on safety and mentorship.”
Halverson said that Ellis most recently transitioned seven youth apprentices to adult apprentices, with two additional youth apprentices on staff, and plans to hire two or three more in 2023. The company’s first youth apprentice to adult apprentice candidate is scheduled to complete his adult apprenticeship this autumn, age the age of 21.
Ellis’ general starting wage range is $16-$18 per hour for beginning general laborers and youth apprentices. When the company’s adult apprentices complete their course work, in-class and after-hours related, and on-the-job training and hours, they will be making a wage in the mid-to-upper $30s per hour.
To apply for the program go to https://elliswi.com.