Business View Magazine - October 2016 89
vative techniques to improve project delivery. This phi-
losophy serves as the foundation for how ABC works
for its members and how its members work for their
clients.
Training the future of the industry
As the industry faces a 1.6 million worker shortage by
2022, ABC is working to address the skills shortage.
ABC chapters have more than 1,000 training centers
and affiliates, train in excess of 71,000 students and
spend more than $29 million annually. ABC members
take training efforts even farther, spending more than
$750 million to train craft professionals—23 percent
of which are veterans, which supports ABC’s pledge
along with other construction industry leader to em-
ploy 100,000 veterans in the next five years. These
training efforts by ABC members and chapters helps
participants become more productive, innovative and
skilled workers.
To honor the top trainees, ABC hosts its annual Nation-
al Craft Championships competition that allows craft
trainees to compete for gold medals in 11 crafts. The
National Craft Championships includes over 200 com-
petitors and showcases team competitions, a safety
award and multi-discipline prefabrication demonstra-
tion projects. In addition, ABC holds a competition for
construction management students and recognizes
the top craft instructor and craft professional of the
year to showcase the best the industry has to offer.
To fund all of these important initiatives, ABC began the
Trimmer Construction Education Foundation (TCEF),
which is a non-profit charitable organization that helps
ABC and its members attract, train and retain workers.
TCEF provides grants to expand training facilities, and
helps promote a safe, skilled and diverse workforce. In
2014, TCEF announced a partnership with NCCER to
offer $100,000 in scholarships from NCCER over the
next five years to people interested in completing craft
