Companies worldwide spend huge sums of money on training and developing employees. In the United States alone, companies spent over $83 billion on employee training in 2019.
Employee training has numerous benefits for companies, which include:
- Greater productivity
- Reduced safety, legal, and regulatory risks
- Greater customer satisfaction
- Greater employee engagement and retention
Even medium and small companies invest hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars per year on employee training because they see it as an investment in the growth and success of their organizations.
Training by Public Entities
But private enterprises aren’t the only ones that understand the benefits of training programs. According to its press release, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) recently offered a 2-week, full-time program for construction training, in addition to its existing 16-week Construction Academy program, which is held 3 nights per week for 3 hours.
“ADOT created its Construction Academy programs to remove barriers to careers in highway construction for women, minorities, veterans and members of economically disadvantaged groups, including those who are out of work,” says the release.
There are added benefits, as well. The ADOT covers training costs and fees and provides support to employees for finding jobs. In addition, the release says, “Those with 100 percent attendance receive free gear including hand tools, tool belts and hard hats.”
Building a More Highly Skilled Pipeline
The “support for finding employment” piece of this training is telling: Current ADOT employees aren’t participating in these programs. And while some may end up working for the ADOT, others may not. So why would this agency train these people at no cost?
Presumably, part of the reason is to provide a way for the Arizona government to help develop skilled workers in its labor force. These workers will help boost the state economy while providing a means of self-support for those who participate as trainees and find work in the state’s booming construction industry.
The ADOT’s Construction Academy programs are a great example of governments’ awareness of the benefits of a well-trained workforce, not just for the organization that trains them but also for the broader community and economy.
If you can’t find them, train them! How could you adopt this kind of thinking to provide a new pipeline of potential talent for your organization?