LIZ TRUMBULL, EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY HISTORIC SITE

The U.S. construction industry is grappling with a shortage of workers. 85% of contractors report difficulty finding qualified people. Meanwhile, the industry is seeing only two replacement workers for every five retiring tradespersons.

Employers across the industry seem to agree that high quality training programs are key to addressing this shortage. Employers want a pool of qualified workers, and investment in pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs is necessary to create that pipeline.

The Preservation Trades Center (PTC) at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site in Philadelphia aims to train the next generation of craftworkers while preserving a nearly 200-year-old National Historic Landmark. Founded in 2018, the PTC trains people historically underrepresented in the skilled trades in hands-on pre-apprenticeships in masonry, carpentry, and cement masonry. Annual academies are fulltime, paid opportunities spanning four to six weeks, taught by expert tradespeople and built with the wraparound support necessary to successfully launch a new career. Since 2022, 100% of PTC participants have graduated from the program. Just one month after graduation, nearly 70% of academy graduates have secured employment in the industry.

Impactful training programs like the PTC are holistically designed to reflect the needs of participants, employers, and the broader industry. Here are five key takeaways from the PTC:

Introduce the Trades with Intention

For decades, high school students have been taught that a college degree is required to achieve financial and professional success. However, as the price of college continues to rise, there is growing skepticism of the value of that investment. Young people are increasingly attracted to earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship models that result in salaries of $72k to $140k – without accruing any debt. Decades of decline in enrollment in vocational classes necessitate renewed investment in trades exposure to garner more interest.

The recruitment process for PTC academies meets applicants where they are, without presuming experience in or knowledge of construction. Recruitment for all three trades happens simultaneously, offering demonstrations and access to craftspeople who have spent their careers in the industry. Applicants are encouraged to keep an open mind and learn about each trade before selecting one to pursue.

Through conversations with PTC alumni and people with roles spanning the construction industry, participants see that economic and career mobility, as well as pride and satisfaction, are achievable in this sector. Technical lectures and tours of construction sites highlight the depth of knowledge and range of experiences available to those who have the curiosity and drive to continue learning throughout their career.

Demystify Industry Norms

Construction workers are often raised in the trades, informally taught the norms of the industry from childhood. For those who have never set foot on a jobsite, it can be an intimidating environment to step into. Pre-apprenticeship programs should be that place of encouragement where participants can build community and gain skills while learning explicitly the oftenunspoken rules of the industry.

In PTC academies, training days reflect real-world jobsites. Participants work physical eight-hour days in the elements. Instructors expect each person to be ready to work, with tools in hand and phones out of sight at 7:30 a.m. Appropriate attire, including personal protective equipment (PPE), is required. The process for finding a job after graduation is clear, including who to call, what to say, and how often to follow up. Instructors talk about travel to the jobsite, how to hold a measuring tape, what to pack for lunch – no detail is too small.

Reduce Barriers to Entry

The costs of starting a new career add up. New apprentices need work attire, such as steel-toed boots, and should be slowly building out their personal collection of tools. They need access to reliable transportation and funds for union entrance fees and dues.

Pre-apprenticeship programs should reduce barriers to entering a new career, starting with paying participants for their time in training. PTC participants are paid $15 per hour and receive uniform pieces like t-shirts, PPE, and steel-toed boots. They are given local transit passes, and the program pays for the tools and fees required to enter a trade union. Prospective applicants impacted by the justice system are encouraged to apply, as records are reviewed on a case-bycase basis. Program leaders work with participants individually on issues like driving permits, suspended licenses, and unpaid fees.

This support better equips a diverse audience to take advantage of an opportunity to build a career and earn a living wage With reduced barriers, participants are better prepared to be present, reallocating energy toward learning and advancing their careers.

Invest in Partnership

Workforce development requires a web of interconnected partners in service of a shared goal: lasting full-time employment for program participants. No one organization can do it all; this work requires each partner to leverage their specific strengths and resources to create impact.

Eastern State partners with Rebuild, a City of Philadelphia program, to develop, fund and host three academies annually.

Each academy is supported by a local trade union and signatory contractor that provides expert instruction and mentorship. PowerCorpsPHL and PA Career Link provide essential recruitment and support services to all participants. The growth of this program and the success of its graduates would not be possible without partnership.

Build a Maintenance-Minded Workforce

As a historic site, Eastern State is uniquely invested in developing the preservation workforce. However, preservation is not exclusive to historic landmarks: the expertise translates to most existing buildings which comprise a quarter, or $85 billion annually, of the construction market. That share is expected to grow – provided there are enough trained craftworkers ready to support it.

Historic tradespeople are an often-overlooked sector within the worker shortage, despite having niche knowledge of historic construction methods, experience with a wide range of materials, and a sensitivity to what already exists. Employers pay a premium of about nine percent on wages for workers with training in historic preservation. Focused pre-apprenticeship programs can prepare participants for highly specialized career opportunities while carrying on the valuable skillsets found in the historic trades.

About Eastern State:

Eastern State preserves America’s first penitentiary, advancing public understanding of the criminal justice system and its impact on the lives of those affected by it, to inspire a more just future. For more information, visit EasternState.org and follow Eastern State on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube