By the Office of Civil Rights
Due to the research, tenacity and thoroughness of Caltrans Office of Civil Rights Workforce Development Center Contract Manager Daron Tarver, the Federal Highway Administration is awarding Caltrans nearly $260,000 for a statewide Highway Construction Training Program to address the shortage of ironworkers.
In the grant, Tarver wrote that there will be an average of 9,300 annual job openings for ironworkers over the next 10 years on California Highway construction projects.
Industry growth and retirements are predicted to contribute to a shortage of welders by 2027 when the American Welding Society (AWS) estimates a need for 360,000 new ironworkers. In the grant, Tarver noted that the Associated General Contractors of America reported that it’s already hard to find enough ironworkers.
Caltrans expects to launch its ironworker program this summer. The training allows students to earn an American Welding Society D1.1 certification, while mastering various welding techniques and gaining practical experience with hands-on workshop training and classroom instruction. Once complete, students qualify for entry level positions that pay up to $58,175 a year.
Caltrans Chief of Staff Velessata Clemmons applauded Tarver’s efforts to start an ironworker program. She said, “This is an excellent example of what happens when staff take pride in their work.”
Tarver, who recently earned a master’s degree in public administration from Azusa Pacific University, previously worked as a Federal Criminal Investigator in San Francisco. Since 2021, he has worked in OCR’s Workforce Development Center, which serves marginalized and underserved communities.
“It’s a big difference between sending individuals away for years, versus helping them out for years,” he said. “I feel like I’m helping the economy, underserved individuals, and organizations fulfill their needs.”
Tarver is using the rehabilitation goals of the California Prison Industries Authority and technical expertise of the Iron Workers Local 118 to create a welding academy for 40 disadvantaged individuals, and address community needs simultaneously. This partnership also includes the California Employment Development Department and Department of Rehabilitation.
“This is more than just a government program. It’s proof that when unions, state agencies, and social services join forces, everybody wins,” Tarver said.
As the Highway Construction Training Program launches, the benefits will ripple throughout California. This program will provide more skilled ironworkers for the construction sector, and uplift individuals from poverty and challenging circumstances, offering them a pathway to stable, fulfilling careers.