‘Well-rounded curriculum’ seeks to fill growing industry need

A collaboration involving two trade associations and the Community College System of New Hampshire has created a Registered Apprenticeship program for carpentry.

Associated Builders and Contractors of NH/VT and the New Hampshire Home Builders Association are partnering with the college system’s ApprenticeshipNH program and Manchester Community College in developing the new apprenticeship, which was approved in November by the state Department of Labor.

According to a study by the National Center for Construction Education & Research, approximately 41 percent of the construction workforce — including carpenters — will retire in the next 10 years, and the situation is reaching dire proportions in New Hampshire.

“This is unsustainable,” said Jeffrey A. Luter, chair of Amherst-based construction firm Fulcrum Associates. “We need to encourage students at all grade levels to consider the potential of a career in construction.”

The Registered Apprenticeship initiative is a program created by the U.S. Department of Labor that connects job-seekers looking to learn carpentry skills with employers looking for qualified workers.

Under the new carpentry apprenticeship developed for New Hampshire, participants will receive a combination of 6,000 hours of on-the-job learning and 455 hours of classroom training at Manchester Community College over three years, all while earning pay.

“This has been a few years in the making,” says Jennifer Landon, vice president of education and workforce development for ABC NH/VT. “During the development stage of the program, we consulted with industry partners to design a well-rounded curriculum that covers more than what we think of as traditional carpentry skills. Our program includes modules of plumbing, HVAC, electrical, masonry and estimating.”

For more information about the Registered Apprenticeship program in carpentry, including expectations of employers, the kind of training provided and on-thejob learning requirements, contact Jennifer Landon at jennifer@abcnhvt.org or 603-496-2678.