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ETA News Release: [10/25/2004]
Contact Name: Ed Frank or Lorette Post
Phone Number: 202-693-4676 or 693-3984

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Announces Nearly $2.2 Million to Train Missouri Workers for Jobs in the Growing Construction Industry

ST. LOUIS -- U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a grant of nearly $2.2 million for the St. Louis Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship Program (CJAP) to train and certify workers for jobs in the construction industry and related fields. The grant is part of the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative which is helping workers find and prepare for jobs in America's fastest growing industries.

"Construction is one of the fastest growing industries in the current economic recovery and is projected to add nearly 1 million new jobs in the next eight years," said Chao. "This $2.2 million grant will help entry-level workers advance their careers and prepare high school instructors to train a new generation of highly skilled workers for construction industry jobs and for other fields."

CJAP will train approximately 250 participants -- 130 of which are currently employed and another 120 dislocated workers - so that they have the academic and technical skills to advance their careers. CJAP will also prepare 24 secondary school instructors for skill standard certifications, which will enable them to teach and certify high school students in construction and related fields.

To help raise awareness of the career opportunities available in the construction industry, Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao launched the "Skills to Build America's Future" Initiative in April of 2004. The initiative seeks to address the nationwide shortage of skilled workers by attracting a new generation to the construction industry. More information on the "Skills to Build America's Future" Initiative can be found at www.careervoyages.gov.

The President's High Growth Job Training Initiative is a strategic effort to better prepare workers to take advantage of new job opportunities in high growth sectors of the American economy. Through executive forums with leaders of expanding industries, critical workforce gaps and issues are identified. Solutions are then created in cooperation with employers, educational institutions and the public workforce system. For more information, visit www.doleta.gov/BRG/JobTrainInitiative/.

For more information on the Department of Labor's employment and training programs, please visit www.doleta.gov.