Facilities workforce development program takes proactive approach to hiring skilled labor

The application rate for skilled labor jobs like plumbers and electricians dropped by 49 percent between 2020 and 2022, National Public Radio (NPR) reported in 2023.

This drop in applications hits close to home for Auburn University’s Facilities Management. It employs more than 450 people with about 48 percent working in the trades.

Before the NPR statistic was released, Facilities Management was already building its award-winning workforce development program created by its Human Resources and its Operations departments. The program works with local and state entities to begin educating students and their parents about skilled trades job opportunities within Facilities Management as early as the ninth grade.

“Our ultimate plan is to create a comprehensive pipeline that connects students with rewarding careers in Facilities starting as early as high school,” said Loren Winn, division director of Facilities Human Resources department. “We achieve this through a series of connected work-based learning programs. These programs provide students with a taste of the facilities industry allowing them to explore their interests and develop relevant skills.”

The programs include learning opportunities such as Career Connections (summer jobs program), Facilities tours, Groundhog Day and Dynamic Divas immersive job shadow programs and pre-apprenticeships or career exploration workshops.

“Students can use these opportunities to make informed decisions about their future and gain a head start if they choose to pursue a facilities-related apprenticeship thus building a skilled labor workforce for Facilities Management,” Winn said.

The plan is working. Facilities recently marked one year into its inaugural apprenticeship program that includes two plumber and two electrician apprentices.

Opelika High School graduate and current electrician apprentice, Ja’Kalen Martin is an example of Facilities recruiting success. He decided to apply for an apprenticeship after participating in one of the industry tours.

“I always thought I wanted to go into marketing or accounting, but when I was in the 11th grade, I started looking around for other opportunities,” Martin said. “I like working with my hands, so I was looking for a trade when I toured Facilities Management just weeks before to my high school graduation.”

He interviewed for one of the apprenticeship positions the day before his high school graduation and was later hired.

“I am extremely blessed to be in the vocation because I have been able to go straight from high school to getting paid to learn a trade,” Martin said.

He now takes part in the industry tours and shares his story with other students.

Facilities Management recently expanded its apprenticeship program to include two Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) apprentices.

“HVAC was chosen based on staffing projections five years into the future,” said Dan Whatley, assistant vice president of Facilities Operations. “When we take into account potential retirements in that five-year window, HVAC had the highest potential for turnover behind electrical and plumbing making it an area where we knew we needed to focus for workforce development.”

Both HVAC hires were participants of Facilities Career Connections program—a summer job program in which students shadow and assist in various trades within Facilities.

“This shows our efforts are paying dividends,” said Hayley White, Facilities Training Manager, who coordinates each of the workforce development programs. “Three out of our six apprentices began taking part in Facilities work-based learning programs while in high school.”

Teddy Herrmann, a recent graduate of Auburn High School and a former participant in the Career Connections program was hired as one of the HVAC apprentices.

He was introduced to the electrical and carpentry fields during his summer in Career Connections and then he went on to become a temporary employee in Facilities before applying for one of two HVAC apprenticeship positions.

“I chose HVAC based on how the job would allow me time to learn new material while working both indoors and out since I am not one to like staying inside all day,” Herrmann said. “I also liked the idea of learning about each campus building and how the internal systems work. Learning how HVAC functions is fascinating for me since I love learning about the inner workings of machines.”

Facilities laid a solid foundation with its Career Connections Summer Jobs Program and Registered Apprenticeship, but there is more to be done, White said.  

“It is important that we stay at the forefront of people’s minds as a preferred employer. Moving forward, I plan to focus on creating individualized opportunities for students to job shadow or do co-op work program,” she said. “This will help us build on our foundation of programs that will provide opportunities for high school students to chip away at some of the required experience for a job at Facilities.”