What is Strategic Workforce Development?

The demand for highway construction, maintenance, and operations workers is growing while industry is experiencing a revolution of emerging technologies that will require new skills. To attract and retain workers in the contractors' workforce, new resources are available to help compete with other industries and demonstrate the value of a career in transportation.

An Industry and Public Workforce Collaboration

Government agencies, trade organizations, private agencies, and communities nationwide need new, collaborative approaches to meeting this challenge. The nation depends on the highway system, and the highway system depends on qualified workers.

Additionally, increasing the contractors' construction workforce can help communities thrive while solving one of today's most persistent national transportation problems. It also offers an opportunity to recruit minorities and women to jobs that can change their lives, and the lives of their families, for the better.

Benefits
Effective Solutions. Advancing the lessons learned through the highway construction workforce pilot offers the transformational ideas and support needed to fill the gaps in the workforce.

Proven Training. Training programs, practices, and tools from across the country are available to help plan workforce development activities.

Flexibility. Free materials are available to support workforce marketing efforts. Posters, flyers, mailer cards, and social media graphics can be customized with local contact information.

Learn more about this EDC-7 Innovation.

NJ's Strategic Workforce Development

Stage of Innovation:
DEVELOPMENT
(April 2024)

With this initiative, NJDOT seeks to: expand the focus of activities to meet additional workforce development needs in NJ; implement a training program to capture skills gaps and institutional knowledge at both the technical and management levels; develop Union/Federal Partnerships with outside sources (FHWA, others) to provide skill-specific training to develop and add skills; and expand resources to respond to staffing needs, retention efforts, and training objectives.

Previously, NJDOT has partnered with other States to discuss challenges related to construction workforce development and on-the-job training. Additionally, NJDOT has met with New Jersey Department of Labor (NJDOL) and has scheduled a meeting with representatives of Unions.

What's Next? 

NJDOT will meet with Unions and Vocational Schools to discuss the needs of the construction industry and matching education and training to those needs, as well as supporting trainees through pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs. NJDOT will explore programs, grants, and other resource opportunities available through the NJ Department of Labor. Development of a Strategic Action Plan will assist with defining short- and long-term activities, and identify and assign roles and responsibilities to advance the initiative. These steps will assist in identification of solutions for workforce recruitment and retention.

Strategic Workforce Development: NEW & NOTEWORTHY

Exploring Strategic Workforce Development in NJ: An Interview with the IUOE Local 825

Exploring Strategic Workforce Development in NJ: An Interview with the IUOE Local 825

We spoke with Greg Lalevee, Business Manager, International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 825. The organization collaborates with Hudson County Community College (HCCC) ...
Exploring Strategic Workforce Development:  An Interview with the Office of Apprenticeship, NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL)

Exploring Strategic Workforce Development: An Interview with the Office of Apprenticeship, NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL)

We spoke with Nick Toth, Director, New Jersey Office of Apprenticeship, NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development to learn about the State’s role in ...
Exploring Strategic Workforce Development in NJ:  An Interview with Hudson County Community College

Exploring Strategic Workforce Development in NJ: An Interview with Hudson County Community College

We spoke with Lori Margolin, the Associate Vice President for Continuing Education and Workforce Development at Hudson County Community College (HCCC) for her insights on ...
Exploring Strategic Workforce Development in NJ:  An Interview with the Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey

Exploring Strategic Workforce Development in NJ: An Interview with the Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey

We spoke with Jill Schiff (Executive Director, Operations) and Darlene Regina (COO) of the Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey (ACCNJ) to hear their perspective ...
Succession Planning Literature Scan

Succession Planning Literature Scan

This literature scan highlights examples of succession planning initiatives being undertaken by State DOTs. ...