Workforce
Construction Careers
Interested in a residential construction career?
A housing shortage means there will be high demand for residential construction labor in the Portland area for the foreseeable future. The industry provides the opportunity to earn high wages, and to start on a sustainable career path. Home builders in the area are eager to hire hard working people who are willing to learn.
A great way to start your new career is with a construction pre-apprenticeship program. In just a few months, you can learn fundamental skills that can help you find a job.
High School Pre-Apprenticeship Programs
There are nearly 40 high school construction programs in the greater Portland area. These have achieved pre-apprenticeship status from the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI).
Oregon:
Benson Polytechnic High School - bensonhs.pps.k12.or.us
Gresham & Sam Barlow High Schools - gresham.k12.or.us
Beaverton School District Merlo Station High School - beaverton.k12.r.us
Reynolds Learning Academy Trades Program - reynolds.k12.or.us
St. Helens High School - sthelens.k12.or.us
Washington:
Cascadia Technical Academy - cascadiatechnicalacademy.org
Portland Area Adult Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Training Programs
Most provide free, short term training to qualifying candidates, and some offer stipends for students to earn while they learn. Students receive preference to some apprenticeship programs upon graduation.
Constructing Hope - constructinghope.org
Latino Built - latinobuilt.org
Oregon Tradeswomen - oregontradeswomen.org
P.O.I.C - portlandoic.org
Portland Youth Builders - pybpdx.org
Community College Construction Training
Low cost construction training and apprenticeships are available at community colleges throughout the greater Portland area.
Oregon:
Clackamas Community College - clackamas.edu
Mt. Hood Community College - mhcc.edu
Portland Community College - pcc.edu
Washington:
Clark College - clark.edu
University Residential Construction- Related Programs
Architecture, engineering, and design four-year degree programs in the area.
George Fox: Engineering, Interior Design - georgefox.edu
Oregon Institute of Technology: Engineering - oit.edu
Oregon State: Engineering, Construction Engineering Management - oregonstate.edu
Portland State: Architecture, Engineering - psu.edu
University of Oregon: Architecture - uoregon.edu
University of Portland: Engineering - up.edu
Residential Construction-Related Apprenticeship Training Centers
Students earn wages while working at local businesses and taking classes.
Pacific Northwest Carpenters Institute - pnci.org
Other Construction Apprenticeships
Electrical, plumbing, roofing, and painting are some of the apprenticeships available in the Portland area.
Oregon BOLI Website - oregon.gov/boli/apprenticeship
If you have previous experience, register with the Oregon Employment Department, which can match you with construction jobs in its data base: worksourceoregon.org
Job Board In Development