CTECS Student Signs as First Apprentice with Carpenters Local 326

The Connecticut Technical Education & Career System (CTECS), Department of Labor (CT-DOL), and construction industry representatives celebrated the initial apprenticeship and employment signing with Carpenters Local 326 and Pursuit Construction (Essex, CT) for one of H.H. Ellis Technical High School’s carpentry students on October 5, 2023. Christopher Harvey is the first high school student in Connecticut to enter construction apprenticeship and employment as a result of a Work-Based Learning program (WBL).

The CTECS WBL program enables juniors and seniors to work with an employer and gain real-world experience instead of attending their instructional training time at school. Students not only receive credit toward their trade classes but also get paid. Through partnerships with local companies, students gain hands-on career development experiences that will help them through the transition from school to work and give them an advantage in the competitive workforce.

This new partnership with Carpenters Local 326 is a step in alleviating the labor shortages that have plagued Connecticut’s construction industry.

“Today’s signing ceremony marks an exciting milestone for the Work-Based Learning program, construction employers across the state, and students looking for a rewarding career,” said Rep. Joe Courtney. “Congratulations to the inaugural apprentice, Christopher, on your hard work. You are setting a strong example of how workforce training programs open the door to meaningful opportunities.” 

“We congratulate Christopher on becoming the newest Registered Apprentice in carpentry,” said Connecticut Department of Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo. “With more than 61,000 construction-related jobs in Connecticut and major infrastructure projects on the way, we have no doubt that his skills will be in very high demand. Carpentry is part of a growing industry that is only constrained by how many workers it can find. We offer a special thank you to Christopher’s family and his Ellis Tech teachers for their support and expertise; bringing young people up into carpentry, construction, and other building trades is critical for our economy and our communities. We wish Christopher the best in his new career.”

“This is a perfect example of the work CTECS is doing in pursuit of our mission to prepare students to be the primary workforce pipeline for Connecticut employers,” said CTECS Executive Director, Dr. Ellen Solek. “CTECS is not just getting students jobs, but we are creating partnerships that provide students access to jobs that never existed for them before.”

“We’re extremely happy to partner with the Carpenters Union and the CT Tech Schools, to extend the offer of Union-based employment to the next generation of tradesmen and women,” said Tawnya Ertel, President and Owner of Pursuit Construction, LLC. “As business owners of a specialty contracting company, with a daughter in the tech school system, we understand the need to develop the workforce for the future”

“This is an opportunity for students to see a pathway to a career, not just a job, and to realize upward mobility in the Carpenters Union,” said Miguel Fuentes, Council Representative for Carpenters Local 326. “This significant step will open doors for contractors to find the qualified employees they are in need of and help to address the skills gap left by the aging workforce in our industry.”

“The people here today are advancing a new workforce pipeline for the construction industry.  They are pioneering seamless career pathways for students.  This is a major step in perfecting the connection between education and workforce.” said Don Shubert, President of the Connecticut Construction Industries Association.

Learn more about CTECS Work-based Learning program.