Apprenticeships Help Train South Carolina's Construction Workforce

Finding qualified, interested workers for South Carolina’s manufacturing and construction companies has long been a challenge.

David Steffens, project manager for Carolina Power, has seen the struggles.

“Especially in construction, laborers, there’s a massive shortage,” Steffens said. “Our really experienced guys are aging out and retiring, and finding current experienced people is very hard.”

For his company, workforce training and apprenticeship programs have made a big difference.

In South Carolina, the workforce training pipeline is a strong one. The South Carolina Technical College System has readySC and Apprenticeship Carolina program, and the system has also partnered with companies over the years – including Scout Motors, which is building a production facility in Blythewood – to provide specialized training.

ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors) Carolinas, which works to help its members build a strong workforce, also has an apprenticeship program. Right now, it focuses on training workers in the electrical industry, but in the near future, the organization may be expanding its scope to add other industries to its training programs.

“The goal isn’t just to get more people in the industry, it’s really to give them training, experience, and the support that they need to build a successful, long-term career in construction,” said Angela Gardner, vice president of workforce development for ABC Carolinas.

The interest in these training programs is growing, Gardner said.

And that growth extends to the construction world in general, as more contractors and construction companies need skilled workers, and would-be workers need training.

“We have people of all ages becoming more interested in going through these apprenticeship programs,” she said.

It’s not just young people entering training soon after high school; it’s also people who’ve been in the workforce for a while looking to change careers.

“Plumbing seems to be a hot topic right now. The concrete construction is popular, meaning masonry is a big deal, mechanical, you could keep going on and on,” Gardner said.

Steffens and the team at Carolina Power have worked through ABC Carolinas to train their employees, and many longtime employees came up through the apprenticeship program themselves.

Carolina Power officials recently began visiting high schools and speaking with students and guidance counselors in an effort to encourage students to consider electrician as a career. They also give the students a tour of the Carolina Power offices, which shows them how the business operates and gives them a feel for the work and the industry as a whole.

Out of that first round of high school visits, 11 workers were hired, and others may be brought on as Carolina Power needs additional staff, Steffens said.

“Most of them have been pretty solid hires from the standpoint of not knowing what they don’t know, if that makes any sense,” he said. “They have jumped in with both feet, they’re learning at a very fast pace because basically they’re thrown into the fire. But they’re paired with people they know, that are experienced, to train them and teach them throughout. They go to class one night a week at Greenville Tech.”

The electrician apprenticeship program takes four years to complete, and when they graduate, “they come out with a very solid electrical background. And for us, it’s a benefit because they see the investment we put in them, not only with the cost, but giving them an education that is free to them, as well as being able to work a full-time job,” Steffens said.

Students must be employed to enter the program, and the tuition costs are picked up by their employers.

ABC Carolinas has relationships with several contractors, and the South Carolina Technical College System has partnered with many companies over the years as well. In addition to its work with Scout Motors, the system is also working with Isuzu as the automaker prepares to begin production in the Upstate, said Tim Hardee, Ph.D., the system’s president.

Apprenticeship Carolina, also operated by the South Carolina Technical College System, will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year.

“There’s about 7,000 active apprentices in South Carolina right now,” Hardee said. “We work with businesses and industries that are interested in that apprenticeship model.”

As Gardner sees it, the apprentices are getting a well-rounded education, one that can serve them for years to come.

“What the students are also understanding is, when it comes to apprenticeship, they’re not just learning in a classroom, they’re gaining real-world experience with our members, being employed with them as well,” she said. “And that’s what makes it a great way for them to learn, not only in the classroom, but also on the job. Because our industry is changing so much in what they have to learn. Even with technology changing, this just keeps them up to speed. And of course, our employers are really focusing on the continued training throughout while they’re employed with them. Which is really important.”