Future Construction Workers Ace Free Training Program In East Orange

EAST ORANGE, NJ — There’s an in-demand career available for people who are good at working with their hands: construction. And a free city job training program in East Orange is helping local residents to get their foot in the door of a growing industry.

Recently, the first class of the East Orange’s “Free Training Program in the Construction Trades” successfully completed the requirements to receive a certificate in general construction. The graduates – all minorities – included 11 men and two women.

The future construction workers celebrated with a ceremony at City Hall, which was supported by municipal officials, the East Orange City Council, the Mayor’s Office of Employment and Training and the National Career Institute.

A component of the East Orange General Laborers Training Program, the 10-and-a-half-week training provided free classes and hands-on training to eligible East Orange residents. It was specifically designed to prepare East Orange residents for opportunities to work locally on redevelopment and revitalization projects.

For more information, contact David Sharp, program director, at david.sharp@eastorange-nj.gov. Interested participants can also visit tinyurl.com/eoconstruction to complete an online survey and be added to the city’s database.

• See related article: Free Training In East Orange Helps Residents Get Construction Jobs
• See related article: East Orange Churns With $1B In Real Estate Development, Firm Says

Things may be uncertain in other fields, but the construction industry is booming, East Orange officials said in a news release:

“The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that opportunities in construction trades will increase by up to 13% by 2026. However, data also shows that the largest percentages of skilled workforce in construction trades exist mainly of workers of ages 45 years and above. The East Orange General Laborers Training Program aims to close this gap and expose younger residents to careers as plumbers, contractors, bricklayers, boilermakers, electricians, painters and more.”

“We have more than $2 billion in major construction happening throughout the city and I want to make sure that our residents are not hindered by a lack of skills or training,” Mayor Ted Green said.

“My administration is committed to investing in our residents, improving their workforce readiness and giving them access to meaningful employment and career opportunities,” Green added. “As the economy continues to recover, it is my administration’s top priority to ensure that we are cultivating homegrown talent and putting them on a path toward upward mobility.”

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