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Construction Firms Now Need English Speaking Workers Non-English-speaking immigrants have long flocked to construction trade jobs. The jobs were plentiful, paid well, and employers usually winked at a lack of papers. Now, however, as even the construction industry is becoming more high-tech, the trend may be changing. Patrick Dean, executive director of the Virginia chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors, told the Washington Post that his members were looking for better English skills. "Obviously, if all my employees speak English, there's less down time looking for translators to explain what needs to be done. You can get a lot done just pointing and drawing pictures, but the industry is becoming more sophisticated every day, and we're in need of English speakers." The solution? Hire more English-speaking unemployed workers? No. Construction firms now teach English to hundreds of workers. The newly-trained workers "are quickly promoted to crew leaders and foremen." |
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The
ELPAC Report 