San Diego Building Group, Nonprofit Team Up On Job Platform

SAN DIEGO, CA — The Building Industry Association of San Diego and the nonprofit WorkforceConnect Thursday announced a partnership to help address an ongoing workforce shortage in the construction industry.

The BIA now provides contractors and job seekers access to WorkforceConnect's jobs board platform, officials said in a news release.

"This free online service sets itself apart from costly alternatives through its innovative approach, leveraging existing partnerships and extensive outreach initiatives across Southern California," according to organization leaders.

They added that because attracting and retaining a skilled workforce is crucial in the construction industry landscape, the WorkforceConnect jobs platform "aims to facilitate seamless connections, ensuring projects thrive and talent flourishes."

WorkforceConnect founder Debbie Barnum said her organization's teaming up with BIA "is a prime example of the local community stepping up, providing job-seekers the knowledge of and access to great paying careers in our communities."

"An ongoing national discussion is taking place about the cost of a college education and resulting student debt, as well as alternative career pathways to college," Barnum said.

The partnership opens the doors "to a future where the construction industry stands out as a beacon of opportunity," said Lori Holt Pfeiler, BIA-SD president and CEO.

"The work is not only meaningful and well-compensated but also ripe with entrepreneurial potential," Holt Pfeiler said. ``Remarkably, the construction sector leads in fostering new business ventures, more so than any other industry. With thousands of jobs currently unfilled, our collaboration is crucial. It connects our members with students and job seekers eager to carve out their own paths and contribute to building our communities.

"This initiative is more than just a jobs platform," she added. ``It's a bridge to futures filled with promise and prosperity."

The platform can be accessed here: https://jobs.workforceconnect.org/.

— City News Service