Emerging Workforce Development for Shipbuilding

Objective:

This project sought to maintain a capable and age-diverse shipbuilding workforce through achieving a better understanding of the interrelated actions of recruiting, educating, and training of entry level and job-changing workers, and professional development and retention of current employees. The process of building and maintaining a shipbuilding workforce has encountered a few obstacles in recent years and recruiting of qualified entry-level workers is perceived as more difficult now than several decades ago. Best practices of new workforce development from related industries such as heavy manufacturing and steel construction trades are not well understood by shipbuilding professionals. This project addressed these issues by gathering and analyzing current information, engaging pertinent stakeholders in conversation, sharing best practices, and exploring new ways that shipyards and educators can help each other.

Key Deliverables:

Final Report – Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited