Education and Training (Archived)

The initial objective of RT-14 (which includes products from Task Force 85-14:  Education and Training) was to capture benchmarks on then-current and near-future needs for education and training in construction. Their foundational report was released in 1990, “Acquisition of Skills and Traits Among Construction Personnel” (SD-54). This led to further studies and in 1991 they published “Evaluation of College Curricula Which Prepare Management Personnel for Construction” (SD-71), and a Special Publication (SP14-1) “Construction Work Force Recruitment Resources Guide” which focused on strategic recruitment implementation. The Education and Training Task Force concluded its work in 1992 when it published its report “Women in Construction” (SD-73). 

In the initial study (SD-54) the team defined 10 skills and traits required in varying degrees to perform 11 identified construction roles, from senior executive to subjourneyman. They defined three sources of training:  formal education, special training, and on-the-job experience. Lastly, they provided 11 key conclusions and recommendations, including these four key ones:

1. There is a need for critical review of all formal education for construction, with a particular emphasis on management education where some impact may be made; a comprehensive study of collegiate construction programs is recommended.
2. Continuing education in construction needs to be upgraded through the collective efforts of academic institutions, contractor organizations, and owner councils.
3. Individual companies should formalize their employee development programs.
4. Technical and communications skills training requires significant improvement for craft workers, who were very much inadequately trained in these skills.

The initial study indicated that about 30% of skills and traits needed to perform construction roles should be gained through formal education. The remainder are acquired through on the job training and experience. The study of college level construction programs (SD-71) was undertaken to determine how education models fit the needs of industry, and was focused primarily on bachelor degree programs and some limited graduate program institutions (two-year programs were not included). The intent was to provide a source document on construction program information for employers, educators, potential students, and other interested parties.

Within the studies, but primarily associated with the Task Force publication on Recruitment Resources (SP14), the evidence was clear that the non-traditional workforce would be a future driving force and that there was a need to recruit more women. The resulting “Game Plan” included in SD-73 targeted recruitment and retention of women in the construction workforce.

This body of research conducted by CII in the over-arching area of Education and Training touches on key areas that remain relevant today in the broadest sense.