Establishes construction workforce recruitment and training program in DOLWD.
Summary
Assembly Bill 812 requires the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development to create a new construction workforce initiative called the “Go Build” program. The program is intended to increase public awareness of construction careers and training opportunities, recruit workers into construction trades, and improve access to workforce training and job pathways in the construction industry.
The bill directs the department to carry out a broad set of outreach and program-development activities, including public education, media advertising, marketing, website and database creation, and partnerships with construction employers, educational institutions, and other public, private, and nonprofit entities. It also specifically instructs the department to consult with the Alabama Construction Recruitment Institute and the Workforce Division in the Georgia Department of Economic Development as it develops and implements the program. Within five years after the program is established, the department must report to the Governor and Legislature on the program’s development, implementation, evaluation, and recommendations for improvement.
Impact
The bill supplements the state’s labor and workforce development law by adding a new programmatic responsibility for the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. It does not create a new licensing scheme or mandate for private employers, but it does require the department to establish and operate a recruitment and training initiative focused on construction trades, along with a reporting obligation to the executive and legislative branches. The primary affected parties are job seekers, construction employers, training providers, and educational institutions that may partner with the state program.
Sentiment
There is limited recorded discussion or voting history available for this bill, so the overall sentiment cannot be measured from committee debate or floor votes. Based on the bill’s sponsorship and structure, the measure appears to be framed as a workforce-development and economic opportunity initiative, with an emphasis on addressing labor shortages and expanding access to skilled trades careers. The absence of recorded opposition or amendments in the provided materials suggests no documented controversy in the available record.
Contention
No specific points of contention are reflected in the provided committee transcripts or voting history, because none are included. Potential areas that could draw scrutiny, based on the bill text alone, include the administrative costs of creating and promoting the program, the effectiveness of using state resources for recruitment and marketing, and the decision to model the program partly on efforts in Alabama and Georgia. However, no stakeholder objections or competing viewpoints are documented in the materials supplied.