The University of New Hampshire is working to address the labor shortage facing highway agencies and contractors across the state.

The university’s T2 Center is partnering with employers, educators, workforce organizations and public agencies to boost New Hampshire’s highway construction workforce while preparing future transportation professionals to enter the field, according to a press release.

The initiative, the New Hampshire Highway Construction Workforce Partnership (NH HWCP), will coordinate statewide efforts to increase career awareness, expand workforce training and connect job seekers with careers in highway construction and maintenance, as demand for skilled workers continues to outpace the available workforce, the press release states.

“The transportation industry offers rewarding careers with competitive wages and opportunities for advancement, yet many people simply aren't aware of the pathways available," said Sara Gates, Workforce Development Program Coordinator for the NH HCWP. "This partnership brings employers, educators, and workforce organizations together to create stronger pathways into these careers while helping employers build the workforce they need.”

NH HCWP is modeled after the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Highway Construction Workforce Partnership framework.

Training Programs Target Students and Career Changers

The initiative includes two workforce development programs:

·      Transportation On-Ramp Job Readiness Program – A multi-week program that connects high school students with highway maintenance careers through field experiences, safety training and direct engagement with industry professionals.

·      Transportation Readiness Academy – An entry-level training program for adults seeking careers in highway construction and maintenance that provides industry-recognized technical and safety training, workforce readiness instruction and employer connections.

Through the initiative, students, career changers, veterans and other job seekers will be connected with employment opportunities across New Hampshire.  

A $227,780 FHWA grant awarded to UNH is supported the newly launched partnership, which will be led by the university’s T2 Center.

“No single organization can solve workforce challenges alone,” said Marilee Enus, Director of the UNH T2 Center. “This partnership creates an important opportunity to align education, workforce development, and industry around a shared goal: preparing the next generation of skilled professionals who will build, maintain, and strengthen New Hampshire's transportation infrastructure.”