don’t require the time and financial investment of a four-year
college degree program. In fact, there are roughly 132 career
choices in the home building industry. The opportunities are
endless and growing.
Skilled trades are vital to our state’s recovering economy. They
play an instrumental role in producing some of our state’s most
important products—homes being one of them. The members
of the Home Builders Association of Michigan (HBAM) are
feeling the direct impact of the labor shortage. As the number
of building permits and home values continue to rise, the
immediate demand for skilled workers is increasing as well.
You are trained in skills that can be put to use in the residential
construction industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Market
Information and Strategic Initiatives, nearly 75% of military
employment is concentrated in five military occupational
categories:
•
Transportation, Engineering, Science, and Technical
•
Combat Specialty
•
Vehicle and Machinery Mechanic
•
Electronic and Electrical Equipment and Repair
•
Health Care
The skills learned in combat specialty transfer to the construc-
tion industry as a Construction Laborer. Those trained as a
Vehicle and Machinery Mechanic have skills that are a natural fit
for HVAC Installers and Repairers.
In addition to the hard skills, you bring soft skills builders are
looking for. As a veteran, you bring leadership and teamwork
skills, organizational commitment, exposure to technology, the
ability to learn new skills, professionalism, character, respect
for procedures and accountability, resiliency, first-class image,
global perspective, and dependability.
The Need for Skilled Labor
To solve the housing crisis, we first need to take a hard look at
the workforce in residential construction. The industry lost a