ABC National > Workforce

About WDMS

The Workforce Development Management System is a free, easy-to-use self-assessment designed to ensure you taking full advantage of your workforce development program.

Why Participate

If you’re planning to grow your business, add new services or move into another market sector, you’ll need knowledgeable, skilled and safe employees. A deliberate, balanced and diverse workforce development strategy can significantly improve outcomes.

Create candidate pipelines for recruitment.
Educate, upskill and build capacity within your existing workforce.
Identify and prepare high-potential employees for advancement, their next assignment or a new role.
Sustain the organization’s culture and transfer it to new employees.

Finally, you don’t know what you don’t know and can’t improve what isn’t measured. How do you know you’re not leaving something game changing on the table and what that something might be?

Get started now by downloading the WDMS worksheet and submitting your self-assessment online today!

Complete the WDMS worksheet and click here to submit your online self-assessment.

How WDMS Works

Self-evaluate your workforce development program and processes against 11 industry-leading workforce development best practices or key components to identify what is working, missing or can be enhanced. Using a rating scale from highest (3) to lowest (0), score each key component and you will easily be able to identify hidden opportunities.

Analyze

The current condition of your workforce development program

Design/Develop

Missing or enhance underperforming components.

Implement

New or upgraded components.

Evaluate

Implemented components’ performance and outcomes.

Adjust

Implemented components to better align with goals and objectives.

Review

Workforce development program’s performance annually.

WDMS self-assessments can be submitted anytime throughout the year. However, if you intend to participate in the ABC Accredited Quality Contractor program, then the self-assessment must be submitted by no later than the last week of October.

Get started now by downloading the WDMS worksheet and submitting your self-assessment online today!

Complete the WDMS worksheet and click here to submit your online self-assessment.

Key Components

Leadership

Employer Involvement Owner, CEO and senior leaders are the champions, recognizing the importance of workforce development and the positive impact it plays tactically and strategically throughout the organization.

Owner, CEO and senior leaders instill all employees with responsibility for workforce development and set accountability at various levels to ensure individual performance and education goals are met.

Owner, CEO and senior leaders ensure that reasonable and necessary resources are made available to advance workforce development program objectives.

Workforce Development Written Policy Documentation aligning human resources and workforce development responsibilities, procedures, policies and processes to ensure consistent execution, administration, compliance and continuous improvement of the organization’s workforce development program.

Responsibility for Workforce Development Clearly defined roles, responsibilities and expectations regarding the implementation and administration of the organization’s workforce development activities.

Resources for Workforce Development The organization ensures reasonable resources, including but not limited to: funds, time, personnel, equipment and supplies. All are available for the successful execution and administration of the workforce development program and related activities.

This includes the development of an annual budget that aligns with organizational short- and long-term workforce development goals.

Process

Continuous Improvement A workforce development program assessment process is in place, used annually and after major workforce development program alterations and events to evaluate effectiveness, applicability and return on investment.

It is recommended that a committee comprised of senior leaders, supervisors and employees be utilized when reviewing the workforce development program’s effectiveness and applicability. This allows for diverse feedback and a clearer understanding based on each stakeholder’s perspective.

Education Methodology The processes, structures, internal and external groups used to deliver education, coaching and mentoring for the organization.

Use of Technology The use of technology for the creation, delivery and tracking of educational content. This also includes the tracking of employee performance and the administration of the organization’s performance management process.

Recordkeeping and Documentation The use of technology for the creation, delivery and tracking of educational content. This also includes the tracking of employee performance and the administration of the organization’s performance management process.

Culture

Employee Involvement Opportunities and expectations for employee participation in the workforce development program are clearly explained at time of hire and at regular intervals.

Workforce Development Goal Setting A formal process is in place to annually review workforce development program needs and establish goals. Action plans are developed, documented, communicated and tracked to ensure goals are accomplished in a timely manner.

As the organization’s workforce development champions, the owner, CEO and senior leaders actively participate and drive the goal-setting process.

Succession Planning The organization has a culture that encourages personal development and strives to fill vacant positions internally whenever possible. Through the performance management process and individual development plan, senior leaders and supervisors identify high-potential employees and prepare them for future roles through job exposure opportunities, education courses and experiential learning activities.

GROW your talent pipeline by participating in local construction industry career outreach, engagement, pre-apprenticeship and recruitment activities.

Reentering CitizensAny outreach, engagement or pre-apprenticeship program that specifically or through association impacts participants who are incarcerated or previously incarcerated.

Military and Veterans Any outreach, engagement or pre-apprenticeship program that specifically or through association impacts participants who are currently a service member or were discharged from the military.

Second CareerAny outreach, engagement or pre-apprenticeship program that specifically or through association impacts those seeking a new career or reentering the workforce after retirement.

K-12 and GEDAny outreach, engagement or pre-apprenticeship program that specifically or through association impacts participants in primary and secondary schools and/or GED programs.

Community CollegeAny outreach and engagement program that specifically or through association impacts students attending community colleges or who have graduated. This will also include the ABC National Student Chapter Network.

UniversitiesAny outreach and engagement program that specifically or through association impacts students attending community colleges or who have graduated. This will also include the ABC National Student Chapter Network.

Rest of PopulationAny outreach, engagement or pre-apprenticeship program that specifically or through association impacts participants in programs not covered above. Typically, these are faith-based organizations, Goodwill, workforce boards, etc.

DEVELOP your employees internally or through ABC chapters across the country that offer more than 800 craft, safety, leadership and management education programs—including over 450 government-registered apprenticeship programs across 20 different occupations.

Learn more about the ABC Leadership Development Blueprint. The ABC Leadership Development Blueprint is a template developed and adopted to aid in the association’s consistent and proactive education and development of knowledgeable and skilled leaders. Subsequently, the blueprint allows the creation of a universal transcript ensuring the portability of education between participating chapters and member organizations.

The blueprint provides education based on four leadership tiers and aligns the four key leadership competencies with each tier:
•  Individual Contributor
•  Front-Line Leader
•  Mid-Level Leader
•  Senior Leader

Below are the four key leadership competencies. Each competency is comprised of knowledge, skills, abilities and behaviors an employee obtains through participating in leadership development education.

•  Creating and Communicating Vision
•  Building Relationships and Trust
•  Developing People and Cultivating Talent
•  Generating Alignment

Visit abc.org/ldb for more detailed information regarding the ABC Leadership Development Blueprint.

Learn more about the ABC Project Management Institute. The ABC Project Management Institute is a premier education and professional development opportunity for future project management leaders. Developed by experienced contractors and Kirk Alter, a nationally recognized subject matter expert with decades of project management experience, this course is designed specifically to meet the needs of today’s contractors.

This highly interactive rapid paced course focuses on project management essentials using real and relevant examples and case studies. Participants will obtain the management tools and skills needed for individual success and a positive impact to their organization while gaining a comprehensive understanding of successfully handling all aspects of project management.

The program is 80 hours of instruction in two, non-concurrent, 40-hour sessions with an interim period between classes for applied assignments and reporting. Class size is limited to 24 participants to provide an interactive experience and to allow the instructor to be fully available to the attendees.

Visit abc.org/pmi for more detailed information regarding the ABC Project Management Institute.

Learn more about ABC safety, craft training and registered apprenticeship programs. ABC chapters provides a variety of industry recognized safety education. Contact your local chapter or visit their website to view their entire catalog of safety offerings.

ABC chapters provides formal registered apprenticeship programs in more than 20 construction trades that are registered with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship. These programs meet all federal and state requirements for formal apprenticeship and prevailing wage work. Upon successful completion, craft workers are recognized at the journey level in their trade and are awarded their apprenticeship certificate.

ABC chapters provides formal craft training programs in more than 20 construction crafts. Upon successful completion, craft workers are awarded their National Center for Construction Education and Research wallet card and certificate of completion.

To learn more about safety, craft and registered apprenticeship programs near you, contact your local chapter or visit their website.

RETAIN your employees by engaging in performance management, individual development and succession planning. Your employees want to feel valued and investing in their growth demonstrates that. Studies have shown that employees are more content and loyal when employers invest in them and their future.

Learn more about the ABC Construction Workforce Awards. The ABC Construction Workforce Awards are annually presented to feature the Craft Instructor of the Year, Craft Professional of the Year and Young Professional of the Year. These individuals play critical roles in shaping the future of the construction industry by highlighting construction as a meaningful lifelong career, emphasizing safe work practices and expanding education opportunities.

Award recipients receive a $10,000 cash prize and a feature in Construction Executive magazine. Plus, they will continue to receive national exposure and professional development for years to come.

Visit abc.org/cwa to submit a nominee or to learn more detailed information regarding the ABC Construction Workforce Awards.

Learn more about the ABC National Craft Championships. The ABC National Craft Championships are annually presented to highlight the achievements of the men and women who represent the future of the construction industry. Craft trainees and apprentices travel from across the country to demonstrate their superior skills, training and safe work practices and compete for top honors in their chosen craft. For the training sponsors, employers and ABC chapters, the NCC demonstrates a staunch commitment to the career paths the construction industry offers.

Visit abc.org/ncc for more detailed information regarding the ABC National Craft Championships.

GET Recognized

Organizations that participate in the WDMS will receive a digital badge and certificate that can be used on their company website, social media platforms, marketing materials and proposal documents. Annual participation in the Workforce Development Management System affords special recognition for organizations that participate for five, 10, 15, 20 and 25-plus years.

WDMS Badge

Note: The year on the digital badges and certificates are updated annually. To receive digital badges and certificates, you must be an ABC member and the WDMS self-assessment must be submitted through the online portal.

Submit Self-Assessment

Get started now by downloading the WDMS worksheet and submitting your self-assessment online today!

Complete the WDMS worksheet and click here to submit your online self-assessment.

If you have further questions about the WDMS self-evaluation process—we’re here to help!
Email ABC’s director of workforce development, Tim Mongeau, at [email protected]