Credentials matter. In the construction industry it is understood that training credentials are important and are a vital part of our education system. As interests and opinions shift that bachelor’s or master’s degrees are the way to go, other forms of industry credentials remain key options for workforce development. In the construction industry, credentials pave the way for lucrative careers, job satisfaction and highly sought-after skills.
What is a credential?
Merriam-Webster defines a credential and credentials in a few ways: a credential is “something that gives a title to credit or trust,” as well as a “certificate or diploma,” and credentials are “witnesses or certified documents that show that a person is entitled to credit.
The Association for Vocational and Technical Education states that education and work-related credentials “verify a person’s qualifications or skills and are issued by a relevant third party.”
In the construction industry, it is important not to confuse credentials and certifications. Because the terms are similar, and often used interchangeably, there can be confusion about what they mean. While other industries may use these terms differently, in construction, we view a credential as a basic element within a training program to demonstrate competency of skills and knowledge.
However, certifications generally represent journey-level knowledge and skills of a specific craft. For example, a certified electrician would typically go through training and also have three to four years of experience in the trade before completing written and performance evaluations. Training credentials are a valuable step in a person’s career path that can ultimately lead to certification.
Why are credentials important?
1:2:7.
The 2018 research report, “Restoring the Dignity of Work: Transforming the U.S. Workforce Development System into a World Leader,” found that for every ten jobs available in the United States, only one required a master’s degree or higher, two required a bachelor’s degree. or higher, and seven required a credential, certificate or associate’s degree.
These numbers are bolstered by recent jobs data, with less than 1 in 5 US job postings on Indeed (17.8%) and ZipRecruiter (14.5%) requiring a four-year degree . Companies are prioritizing skills over degrees, with 72% of employers saying they practice competency-based hiring.
The 1:2:7 ratio is key to building a successful workforce development system in the United States, but it may be unfamiliar to many students and their parents, in part because of the common misconception that a university degree is the guaranteed path to success. This belief has contributed to more students pursuing degrees than the job market needs, resulting in 52 percent of undergraduates being underemployed a year after graduation, according to a report by the Burning Glass Institute and Strada Institute for the Future of Work.
while 45% of degree holders are still out of work a decade after graduation, the construction industry still has many opportunities for careers that are, and will continue to be, in high demand. The industry faces an estimated skilled labor shortage of 2.7 million by 2026, the Construction Labor Market Analyzer reports.
The construction sector also has a larger than average workforce and projections indicate that the median age continues to rise. Although younger talent is now needed in the industry to prepare for retiring baby boomers, most members of the younger generations currently do not consider construction as their first career choice. A challenge facing the industry is to demonstrate that construction can be a primary and lucrative career choice for all people entering the workforce.
One way to illustrate the benefits of starting a career in construction is through apprenticeship and trades training programs, where people can become accredited and certified while accumulating little or no debt. There are even scholarships available for those in training programs.
Promote sourcing credentials.
Industry and education must work together to promote the value of credentialing and to create maximum impact for both students and the construction workforce.
One partnership that has been successful is Sundt Construction and Central Arizona College (CAC). Sundt Construction was struggling to find qualified tradespeople, while CAC’s construction discipline courses were declining in enrollment. Sundt and CAC were able to identify five craft pathways specifically designed to provide OSHA 30, stackable certifications that equate to 30 hours of college credit, and NCCER Level 1 and 2 credentials for specific crafts. With the commitment of both the contractor and the university management, the program was launched in three months.
The growing attention the credentials are receiving is important, especially because it highlights the importance of professional and technical education in growing construction talent. The construction workforce has an opportunity to encourage students to pursue credentials and career options they may not have considered, and to support programs where young people learn the skills our construction workforce needs. the construction
Learn how NCCER’s industry-recognized credentials help advance construction careers.
