Building a steady pipeline in your area starts with getting to know local conditions and resources--in short, with a lot of research.

That research and your connections with education and workforce development initiatives is key. You’ll need to partner with, support, and recruit from a variety of prospects as you build your workforce pipeline.

Many fabricators have better luck recruiting prospects through Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs than through other tools such as online job search engines. They are finding that CTE students have a basic level of understanding and expressed desire to work with their hands to build something physical.

Take the time to understand the demographics and needs of those students. What do they hope to achieve? Why are they pursuing this path? What challenges do they face? Collecting and evaluating key regional data will help you be more intentional and fruitful in identifying talent pools and successfully selling your company to potential employees.

Don’t limit yourself to CTE programs. Active pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs are another way to attract people interested in starting a skilled trade career--and as an added benefit, you’ll have better access to, appeal to, and support underrepresented populations in your region. In some areas of the country, veterans of the armed forces are topping the list of those ready to dig in and build in a team environment. Other companies find referrals of formerly incarcerated individuals from reentry support organizations to be a reliable pipeline. Be open to applicants from all backgrounds.

Next: Get Involved