The continuing education and workforce development division at Wor-Wic Community College is offering a free carpentry training course called “Basic Construction Techniques I” on Thursdays from 5:30 to 8:45 p.m., beginning Sept. 7 and ending Dec. 7, at Parkside High School.
This course is designed to prepare students with the basic skills required to enter the construction industry. Proper and safe use of hand and power tools, as well as basic safety standards for construction, will be covered. Basic math and measurement related to construction will be reviewed. Other topics covered include work ethic, career paths, teamwork, floor systems, wall systems, basic stair layout, doors, drywall, ceilings, trim and cabinet installation.
The job outlook for this field is favorable. Data from Economic Modeling Specialists Inc. indicate a growth rate of 2.2 percent in the construction of buildings on the Lower Eastern Shore over the next five years. Sixty percent of workers in the construction industry are 45 years old or older, suggesting that, in addition to growth in the industry, there will be replacement openings in the near future. As a whole, the average salary for construction workers on the Lower Eastern Shore is $40,989.
Tuition for the course is free, but applicants must go through a selection process and space is limited. The training is being funded by an EARN (Employment Advancement Right Now) grant from the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation in partnership with industry representatives, Quality Staffing Services and the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance in Salisbury.
For more information about the course, visit the college website at www.worwic.edu or call 410-334-2815. To be considered for the training, visit the training programs section on the Quality Staffing Services website at www.easternshorejobs.com or call them at 410-742-2600.