Olympic College to launch Construction Trades program this spring. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington ranks in the top ten nationally with nearly 166,000 construction jobs. Residents of Mason County looking to enter this field can now prepare for this career in the new Construction Trades program at Olympic College.

The new program debuts Spring Quarter at the Shelton campus and is now enrolling students. Students will be able to earn a certificate in just three quarters. They will graduate equipped with essential skills needed to secure high-paying jobs in the residential and light construction industry as a carpenter’s helper, construction laborer, and construction apprentice in local carpenters’ and laborers’ unions.

The 44-credit certificate program teaches students safe and proper use of hand and power tools and personal protective equipment; worksite and job safety; foundation layout and framing; wall, floor, and roof framing; and interior and exterior finishing techniques used in the construction industry.

“The launch of the new program is an exciting expansion of the college’s skilled trade opportunities for students,” said Olympic College President Marty Cavalluzzi.

“The launch of the Construction Trades program presents a spectacular opportunity for our Shelton students and reflects Olympic College’s commitment to offering programs that are responsive to the industry needs of the communities we serve.,” Cavalluzzi said. “Our staff worked hard to develop this program, and we’re excited to see it come to fruition.”

OC Shelton Director Allison Smith said it’s exciting to see the new program come online. “The college is already receiving a lot of interest from students and the broader community,” she added.

“I’m delighted that the program is finally here,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of interest. We’ve had students who reached out to us a long time ago who are interested, and advisors are already asking me about it, so I think it’s going to be a popular program.”

Smith noted that there is a great need for skilled employees. The Construction Trades program gives students a leg up, because not only do they learn construction skills like how to measure and cut, but also how to be a responsible worker, with an emphasis on job skills like being on time and professional work ethic, she said.

Students may be able to get their tuition for the program paid for in whole or in part through financial aid programs, including the Worker Retraining program, which offers financial support to students who are retraining for a new job or career in a professional-technical program.

As many baby boomers in the construction industry retire, there’s a shortage of workers to fill high-paying jobs in the construction industry, such as carpenters, drywall installers, plumbers, electricians, and heating and cooling technicians. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are a projected 91,200 annual job openings in the industry. A labor market analysis from 2018 projected 600 new construction jobs in Mason County by 2028, and a 16 percent rise in job growth during that time.

Learn more about the new Construction Trades program website.

Prospective students can learn more about the program at upcoming information sessions at our Shelton campus:

For more information on the Worker Retraining program, contact [email protected] or 360-475-7849.