The Building Talent Foundation (BTF) has partnered with Malco Tools, a manufacturer of specialty hand tools for the HVAC and building construction trades, to tackle the ongoing skilled labor shortage.

The organizations will work together by facilitating joint events to promote careers in construction and by connecting job seekers, schools, and employers. BTF and Malco will also work on attracting youths and individuals from underrepresented groups with training and employment opportunities through BTF’s career and jobs platform, JobsToBuild.

“Building Talent Foundation is excited to collaborate with Malco Tools,” Branka Minic, CEO of BTF, says. “Together, we will leverage our collective strengths to promote the many career options in construction, address the critical talent shortage in the industry, and positively impact lives through connections to meaningful work.”

BTF and Malco are planning joint career events in Orlando, Florida; Dallas; and San Diego this spring. At the events, Malco volunteers will engage students of BTF training partners in exploring careers in construction, teaching attendees about Malco’s corporate culture and core values, demonstrating its tools in action, and sharing advice on how to succeed in the industry.

“We are thrilled to join forces with Building Talent Foundation,” Rich Benninghoff, president and CEO of Malco Tools, says. “This collaboration aligns with Malco’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and community impact as well. By combining our expertise in solutions development with BTF’s dedication to empowering underrepresented individuals in construction, we are poised to make a lasting impact in the industry.”

BTF is a nonprofit founded by the Leading Builders of America, dedicated to addressing the acute and persistent talent shortage in construction. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction industry averaged 445,000 job openings per month during the fourth quarter of 2023. BTF is committed to advancing the education, training, and career progression of young people and underrepresented groups in the construction industry.

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