Q1 2023 Western Region update: We’re focused and ready to meet labor challenges

During the first quarter of 2023, growth will continue across the Western Region after a record year in 2022. There will be emerging work in clean energy and infrastructure funded by federal dollars, with multiple projects breaking the $1 billion mark on total insurable value. 

The primary focus of the SSMRC Western Region staff will be recruitment and training to meet increasing labor demands. There will be an emphasis on cross training experienced, skilled trades workers to become millwrights. We also are implementing programs to allow greater flexibility in training schedules to keep millwrights onsite working for our partnering employers as much as possible while they continue building skills. 

Our partnerships with vocational schools, community colleges, and CTE programs within high schools are expanding to feed our locals with more experienced and/or trained applicants. Customers’ scheduling needs could make adequate skilled labor the primary deciding factor in awarding contracts, and the SSMRC Western Region is focused and ready to meet the challenges before us.