Work Plan: Building Trades

What You Need to Know:

• There are more than 200 construction companies in the Northland.
• In 2006, the average Northland median hourly earnings for electricians was $24.18; for construction laborers, $18.80; sheet metal workers $24.91; and carpenters $20.24 per hour.
• Northland wages are, on average, aligned similarly with the state averages of Minnesota & Wisconsin.
• Local laborers are affiliated with over 40 local unions, which maintain headquarters in our area.
• Learn who the leading Building Contractors are in the region. (PDF)

Organization Feature:

In May 2001 Women's Transitional Housing Coalition, Inc. (WTHC) a non-profit housing developer and service provider in Duluth initiated a new program with 3 primary goals:

1. to teach women construction skills,
2. to utilize women crews to work on renovation and new construction projects, and
3. to assist women in entering jobs that pay livable wages.

During the first year WTHC raised funds for the project, worked on developing a hands-on training curriculum, and identified projects that women could work on to gain skills that would lead to jobs in the construction trades.

WTHC staff also approached local job training programs asking them to refer women to the project. The City of Duluth, The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and NEMOJT all came on board and began referring low-income women they were working with to the project for work experience. Women who came in through the job training programs were paid through the job training programs for 400+ hours of training.

During the first year, the women who entered the WTHC's Women in Construction Training Program, worked on a variety of projects including:

• working with a local construction company to build a $250,000 home;
• removing a tar and gravel flat roof and installing a new rubber membrane roof;
• working on a Habitat for Humanity home;
• and siding a duplex for Northern Communities Land Trust.

By the end of the first year over 20 women were involved in the project and there was a waiting list for new women interested in joining the project.  >> read more

Opportunity Knocks:

• Job opportunities for electricians, general construction laborers and sheet metal workers is expected to grow faster than average in our region between 2002-12.
• Carpenters, bricklayers, painters, carpet layers, and roofers can expect average growth in our region through 2012.

Resume Ready:

• Most learn construction and electrical trades by completing an apprenticeship program lasting 3 to 5 years.
• Apprenticeship programs typically require a minimum of 144 hours of classroom instruction and 2,000 hours of on-the-job training each year.
• Following the apprenticeship program, the "journeymen" often continue to learn on the job.
• Electricians are more likely to complete an apprenticeship program, while workers in other construction trades may elect apprenticeships, technical school programming, or on-the-job training.
• The northland offers a variety of preparation, training and employment opportunities in the building trades: Joint Apprenticeship Committee of Local 11 and 589 — (218) 733-9443
  
  
  • College of St. Scholastica
  • Duluth Business University
  • Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
  • Hibbing Community College
  • Lake Superior College
  • LCO Community College
  • Mesabi Range Community & Technical College
  • Northcentral Technical College
  • Northland College
  • Rainy River Community College
  • University of Minnesota-Duluth
  • University of Wisconsin-Superior
  • Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College

Kick Off Your Career Game Plan:

• Alliance Construction, Inc., Superior, WI (715) 392-2433
• Amendola Construction Company, Inc.
• Ben Potter Construction, Inc.
• Bruckelmyer Brothers Construction LLC
• Caribou Design & Construction, Inc. (831) 624-1311
• Chris Jensen & Son Company, Superior, WI (715) 395-2238
• D & N General Construction, Superior, WI (715) 392-2620
• Don Mitchell Construction, Inc., Duluth, MN (218) 525-0509
• Fabre Construction, Saginaw, MN (218) 729-6261
• Foster & Solon Construction (218) 723-8010
• Frontier Builders, Inc.
• Gordy Johnson Construction
• Grand Portage Construction, Grand Portage, MN, (218) 475-2462
• Homestead Construction, Duluth, MN (218) 729-6840
• Hovland Inc.
• J.R. Jensen Construction Company
• J & R Sundberg Construction
• Jay Litman Construction Remodeling and Handyman Services
• Jeff Nelson Construction, Hermantown, MN (218) 727-2197
• Jim Perrault Construction, Hermantown, MN (218) 723-8477
• Johnson-Wilson Constructors
• Kraus-Anderson
• Lakehead Constructors, Inc.
• Lipe Brothers Construction, Inc.
• Northern Trends Building & Design
• Northwoods Custom Builders, Inc.
• Oscar J. Boldt
• Owen Carpentry & Millwork, Duluth, MN (218) 724-2040
• Petrich Construction, Duluth, MN (218) 393-4744
• Ray Dahl Construction, Duluth, MN (218) 729-7481
• Reuben Johnson & Son, Inc.
• Vesel Construction, Inc.
• William K. Construction, Duluth, MN (218) 393-3790
• Women in Contstruction, LLC
• Zierden Builders, Duluth, MN (218) 590-1101