PUBLICATION OF NEW WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT REPORT COINCIDES WITH HAWAI‘I CONSTRUCTION CAREER DAYS

News Release from PRP, Sept 17, 2024

HONOLULU, HI – As Hawai‘i continues to experience remarkable growth and resilience in the construction industry, Pacific Resource Partnership is excited to announce the publication of its new workforce development report called New Foundations: Laying the Groundwork for Hawai‘i’s Middle-class Renewal and Revival of the Trades.

The 58-page report is being published to coincide with Hawai‘i Construction Career Days at the Aloha Stadium Lower Hālawa Parking Lot on Sept. 19 and 20, an event focused on exposing students to the many career paths that are available in the construction industry. Each of the approximately 1,400 public, private, and charter middle school and high school students taking part in Hawai‘i Construction Career Days will receive a free professionally bound copy of New Foundations: Laying the Groundwork for Hawai‘i's Middle-class Renewal and Revival of the Trades. The event is being sponsored by the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, trade and labor organizations, private construction companies, and corporate sponsors.

“The construction industry is forecast to generate over $10 billion worth of work over the next three to four years, which represents a tremendous opportunity for our young people to get into the trades, earn a good living with no college debt, and remain in Hawai‘i,” said Pacific Resource Partnership Marketing Manager Melanie Kim. “We hope our workforce development report opens a lot of eyes as to the benefits of the trades, including our young people, elected leaders, and those who work in the fields of business and education.”

New Foundations: Laying the Groundwork for Hawai‘i’s Middle-class Renewal and Revival of the Trades relies on the latest economic data and forecasting tools, as well as interviews with Hawai‘i government officials and industry insiders.

The report covers a variety of important topics, including:

• The construction industry's role in strengthening Hawai‘i’s middle-class and the importance of skilled labor in sustaining economic growth.
• The need to expand Hawai‘i’s construction workforce to support the ongoing and future demand for infrastructure and housing projects.
• How the “Silver Tsunami” and the “Great Crew Change” is exacerbating the urgent need to grow Hawai‘i’s construction workforce.
• The importance of enhancing trades education programs and leveraging technology to address labor shortages.
• Why the construction industry is pivotal in achieving Hawai‘i’s renewable energy goals.
• How Hawai‘i’s young people can earn a good living in the trades while acquiring little to no college debt.

“It’s time for all of us as residents of Hawai‘i to start talking about the trades as a noble career path that not only promotes the well-being of local residents, but also adds tremendous value to the future success of the state,” said Pacific Resource Partnership Interim Executive Director Josh Magno. “By choosing to invest in its people and our infrastructure, Hawai‘i can avoid the pitfalls of stagnation, and instead become a beacon of growth and innovation in the Pacific and beyond.”

The report was crafted in close collaboration with FMI Consulting, which offers an unparalleled level of access, data, and insights into engineering, construction, and additional sectors of the built environment. The report’s eye-catching layout, graphics, and photos were crafted in collaboration with Warren Daubert and James Nakamura of Daubert Design Co.

Digital copies of New Foundations: Laying the Groundwork for Hawai‘i's Middle-class Renewal and Revival of the Trades can be downloaded for free by going to the Pacific Resource Partnership website at PRP-Hawaii.com. 

Quick Facts

Pacific Resource Partnership has published a new workforce development report called New Foundations: Laying the Groundwork for Hawai‘i's Middle-class Renewal and Revival of the Trades

The 58-page report relies on the latest economic data and forecasting tools, as well as interviews with Hawai‘i government officials and industry insiders.

The report notes that the construction industry will play a critical role in strengthening Hawai‘i’s middle-class and the growth of skilled labor is urgently needed to sustain economic growth.

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About Pacific Resource Partnership

Founded in 1987, Pacific Resource Partnership is a nonprofit organization that represents the Hawai‘i Regional Council of Carpenters, the largest construction union in the state with approximately 6,000 members, in addition to more than 250 diverse contractors ranging from mom-and-pop owned businesses to national companies. Pacific Resource Partnership is the backbone of Hawai‘i’s construction industry and you’ll find us on every island, building homes and businesses, creating neighborhoods, revitalizing communities, strengthening infrastructure, and shaping the face of things to come. In executing its vision for a better Hawai‘i, Pacific Resource Partnership focuses on “People, Relationships and Promise” – we are PRP.

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16th Annual Hawaiʻi Construction Career Days (govdelivery.com)

SN: Annual Construction Career Days event geared toward students (spectrumlocalnews.com)