Florida Carpenters Union Launches $15M Apprenticeship Training Center

ORLANDO — The Southeast Carpenters Regional Council opened a new $15 million, 48,000-square-foot apprenticeship training center in Orlando on Monday, the largest dedicated construction trades training facility in Florida, built to address a statewide shortage of skilled workers the industry estimates has reached 65,000 positions.

The facility at 7800 Kingspointe Parkway features 12 lab spaces covering residential and commercial framing, concrete formwork, drywall installation, and finish carpentry, along with a computer lab for BIM and construction software training and a simulated jobsite environment covering a full city block of the property.

“The construction workforce shortage is the single biggest constraint on Florida’s building economy,” said Southeast Carpenters Training Director Marcus Williams. “Every week, projects are delayed and costs go up because contractors can’t find qualified workers. This center is our answer to that challenge.”

The council partnered with five large Florida general contractors — Turner Construction, Skanska USA, Suffolk Construction, Hensel Phelps, and Moss Construction — to develop curriculum aligned with current industry needs. Each firm has committed to hiring apprentices who complete the program.

The center will train up to 800 apprentices annually across its four-year apprenticeship program and shorter certificate programs in specialty areas. Apprentices earn wages during training, starting at $18.50 per hour in the first year.

Florida Construction Association Executive Director Raymond Okafor called the facility “a game-changer” for the industry and said his organization is exploring a similar consortium model for other trades including electricians, pipefitters, and ironworkers.

Author: James Rivera

Infrastructure Reporter. Covers FDOT contracts, highway expansion, and transit projects across Florida. Former civil engineer with 12 years in highway design before transitioning to construction journalism.