|
Remarks Prepared for Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
Skills to Build America's Future Initiative
Washington, D.C.
Tuesday, April 6, 2004
Partners :
- National Heavy and Highway Alliance:
- International Union of Operating
Engineers;
- United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America;
- International
Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron
Workers;
- Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association;
- International Brotherhood of Teamsters;
- International Union of Bricklayers
and Allied Craftworkers; and
- National Heavy and Highway Alliance.
- Construction Industry Roundtable
(CIRT)
- National Association of Home Builders
Good morning.
We are here today to launch the Department of Labor's Skills to Build America's
Future Initiative.
The purpose of this initiative is to build national awareness of the importance
of the skilled trades, and raise public awareness about the great job opportunities
available for skilled workers.
We have just had a very productive meeting. We talked about how we can work
together to help workers, young people, parents and teachers learn about
these well-paying job and education opportunities.
We all recognize the importance of the skilled trades to America's future.
As I pointed out during our meeting, we have the greatest infrastructure
in the world thanks to the talents of the skilled trades. Yet the construction
industry is facing a shortage of workers.
Over the next decade, many new jobs will be created in the skilled trades.
Many other jobs will open up as the Baby Boomers retire. The men and women
who fill these jobs will give shape and structure to the America of the 21st
century.
The Skills to Build America's Future Initiative will encourage Americans
to pursue professions in the skilled trades. And it will help them prepare
for and succeed at the fulfilling and well-paying jobs available in this
vital industry.
During our meeting this morning, we discussed an action plan to raise public
awareness:
- The Department of Labor will coordinate with the Department
of Education and our industry partners to use the Web site CareerVoyages.gov
as the home base for information about this initiative.
- We will ask
governors and state legislatures to promote the skilled trades.
- The
Initiative will provide high schools with information about the opportunities
available in the skilled trades. In fact, all the participants at
our meeting signed a joint letter to high school guidance counselors.
It tells them how their students can access the rewarding education
and career opportunities available in the skilled trades.
- The Department
of Labor will work with our partners find opportunities to speak at
high schools, trade schools, new construction sites and other venues
to heighten awareness of opportunities in the skilled trades.
- We will
provide information, via newspaper, television and radio, about opportunities
in the skilled trades.
- Finally, we will seek partnerships with sports
leagues. We will ask athletes to speak about the opportunities in
the skilled trades. We will also provide information about the skilled
trades at sporting events.
The Skills to Build America's Future Initiative recognizes that the skilled
trades are vital to our nation's future and provide rewarding career paths
for our nation's young people.
Thanks to all our partners for joining us in the Skills to Build America's
Future Initiative.
# # #
_________________________________________________________________
| 
