Job Training Albuquerque Grows Construction-Focused Offerings, Helps Local Businesses Add 544 Jobs
April 6, 2023
The City of Albuquerque’s premier workforce development program, Job Training Albuquerque (JTA), continues to help local small businesses skill-up their employees and create new jobs in the community. The program has expanded its offerings to boost local careers in construction with industry-specific courses. To continue the success of this program and create more opportunities for employees and businesses, the administration has requested $500,000 in funding for JTA in the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2024.
JTA sources educational programming through organizations like the Associated General Contractors of New Mexico (AGC NM) to offer relevant professional opportunities for Albuquerque businesses.
“JTA is an investment in the future of our city. With this program, and through strategic partnerships with organizations like AGC NM, folks are launching new careers and skilling up,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “We’re working to support key industries and workers so that we can meet critical demands, like the need for trained construction workers to help build vital infrastructure and housing for our city.”
Over the past three years, JTA has added additional training partners in order to offer a wide variety of courses in high-demand fields, such as construction. The partnership with AGC NM launched construction-focused training programs including Construction Supervision Fundamentals, Construction Quality Management for Contractors, Supervisory Training Program, and others. The primary mission of AGC NM is to educate New Mexicans about the benefits of a career in construction while providing advocacy, training, and improving jobsite safety.
"The construction-focused courses offered through JTA have had a positive effect on our employees and our business," said Paulette Baca, Paulson Plumbing & Mechanical President. "Participating in this program supports our employees to grow in the field and move forward with long-term, successful careers in the construction industry."
Since last fall, 14 construction companies and 59 workers have enrolled in JTA programs. Since its launch in January of 2020, 126 organizations and 497 workers have completed JTA trainings, gaining high-demand workforce skills not only in construction training, but also areas like Coding, Accounting, Project Management, Commercial Driver’s License Training, and more. The courses help create a more skilled workforce in Albuquerque, resulting in better career outcomes for the program’s participants.
By participating in JTA, employers agree to add one job to their operation within two years, spurring small business growth, and building a deeper pool of workforce talent for existing and potential companies. To date, JTA has helped local businesses, 43% of which are women-owned businesses, add 544 jobs at 58 different employers.
“The Job Training Albuquerque program is a terrific example of the power of partnerships,” said CNM President Tracy Hartzler. “CNM looks forward to continuing to grow this impactful workforce development program so we can help more people in Albuquerque gain the valuable skills they need to advance in their careers while helping local employers, especially small- and medium-sized businesses, grow and add prosperity to our local economy.”
JTA is a partnership between the City of Albuquerque and Central New Mexico Community College. Program funding is provided by the City of Albuquerque Economic Development Department and the program is administered by CNM Ingenuity, a workforce training arm of the college.
JTA is currently accepting applications for a variety of trainings. A full listing of courses, how to apply, and more can be found on the JTA website.