Construction Sector

"Construction is a mature industry in Snohomish County with the employment expectations of an emerging [industry] cluster."

This was the primary conclusion of the Snohomish County Construction Labor Market Survey published in October 2004.

One of the principal findings of the labor assessment component of the Survey was that construction employers in the County are "having difficulty finding qualified candidates." This workforce deficiency is happening in an industry environment in which 1000 new jobs are expected to be added to the County's construction labor force each year for the next 5 years. [click here to view the Construction Labor Market Survey]

The Snohomish County Workforce Development Council Construction Skills Panel is being formed: to identify current and future industry-specific employment and skills training needs; and, to create or expand the options for job growth and training in the County to meet these needs.

The success of the Snohomish County Construction Skills Panel will be measured by the tangible value it provides to the construction industry in the County. The Panel must be "industry-led," including in its composition construction industry businesses, construction industry trade associations, construction labor unions and academic institutions, along with a wide variety of other County-based public and private sector stakeholders with a vested interest in the long-term success of the construction industry in the County. The benefit to industry leadership will be the availability of a County-based construction workforce trained in the skills needed by County construction industry employers.

For more information about the Snohomish County Construction Skills Panel contact: Vance Titus , Snohomish County Workforce Development Council, Construction Skills Panel Coordinator at 425-921-3419 or by email .