Construction Labor Shortage: How to Tap DOL's New $95.5M Reskilling Grants for Your Next Crew

· 4 min read

If you run a small construction company, you know the feeling. The bids are there, the work is there, and the crew isn't. Every job you turn down because you are short handed is money left on the table.

On October 19, the U.S. Department of Labor announced $95.5 million in Rapid Reskill Dislocated Worker Grants. The money supports 20 projects across 17 states to connect workers affected by layoffs with training and jobs in growing industries. Construction is named on that list.

What the Grants Fund

According to the Department of Labor's announcement:

  • $95.5 million in total funding, administered by the Employment and Training Administration.
  • 20 projects across 17 states.
  • Target industries include domestic manufacturing, aerospace, energy production, construction, and other occupations.
  • Projects assess each participant's prior experience and skills, then chart a course to an in demand occupation.
  • Programs use short, intensive training that leads to industry recognized credentials.

The grants aim to place participants into paid work within six months of enrollment. That can mean full time unsubsidized employment, a Registered Apprenticeship, or other paid, structured on the job training. Keep in mind this is a goal of the program, not a reported result. The projects are just getting started.

A Construction Focused Example

One recipient stands out for contractors. Adaptive Construction Solutions Inc. in Texas received $6,593,357, or about $6.59 million. Other recipients include state workforce agencies and local organizations in states such as Florida, Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, Washington, and New York. The full list is in the DOL release.

For a contractor, this means a new group of motivated adults may soon be finishing training with fresh credentials, ready for their first paid role in the trades.

Why Small Contractors Should Pay Attention

Workers coming out of these programs will be looking for employers who respond. Many have been through a layoff. They want a clear next step, a real conversation, and an offer they can count on.

Bigger firms may have recruiters ready to meet them. A small contractor usually has an owner or office manager juggling estimates, permits, and payroll. If an applicant calls or emails and hears nothing for a week, they move on.

The contractors who win this pipeline won't necessarily be the biggest. They will be the ones who are organized and ready when the training ends.

How to Get Ready Now

  • Find out whether a Rapid Reskill project is running in your state by checking the recipient list in the DOL release.
  • Contact your local workforce board or the grant recipient and ask how employers can connect with participants.
  • Write clear job posts for entry level and apprentice roles, with honest pay, hours, and what a new hire will learn.
  • Keep applicants and hiring steps in one place, so referrals from a training program don't get lost in your phone.
  • Reply to applicants fast and set up a site visit or short interview.

ReadyATS helps small businesses keep applicants and hiring steps in one place and reply to applicants fast. When a training partner sends you five names, you can see every one of them, where they are in the process, and who needs a call back.

The Window Is Opening

These projects are aiming to place people into paid work within six months of enrollment. That means employers who build relationships with training partners now will be first in line when participants are ready. Waiting until the first group graduates means competing with every other contractor who heard the same news.

Washington just funded a new crew pipeline. ReadyATS makes sure you're the contractor who hires them first.

Be Ready for Your Next Crew

Get your hiring organized before the first trainees finish. Set up ReadyATS, bring every applicant and referral into one view, and be the contractor who answers first. Setup takes about 15 minutes.

Starting ReadyATS in 15 min Now

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FAQ

Q: What are the DOL Rapid Reskill grants?

They are Dislocated Worker Grants totaling $95.5 million that support 20 projects in 17 states to connect workers affected by layoffs with training and jobs in growing industries.

Q: Is construction included?

Yes. The Department of Labor lists construction among the target industries, along with domestic manufacturing, aerospace, and energy production.

Q: Will participants be job ready in six months?

The program aims to place participants into paid work or apprenticeships within six months of enrollment. That is a goal, not a guaranteed or reported result.

Q: Which construction organization received funding?

Adaptive Construction Solutions Inc. in Texas received $6,593,357, according to the DOL release.

Q: How can ReadyATS help contractors hire from these programs?

ReadyATS helps you keep applicants and referrals in one place and reply to applicants fast, so you can move quickly when trainees are ready.