Why the next dependable hire on your jobsite might be someone who has already proven he can rebuild.
When Jeremy enrolled at Project JumpStart, he wasn’t sure it would work.
He had just come home after ten years away. He was picking up odd jobs through a temp agency, with no real direction and a growing sense that he needed a plan.
“I had doubts the minute I signed up,” he says. “I wanted everything to happen really fast. I felt like I didn’t have time to be waiting on life.”
Today, Jeremy is a mechanic with Kiewit working on the Key Bridge project, one of the region’s most significant construction projects. He has also taken an active role in promoting safety within his crew and is building toward a long-term career in safety leadership.
What happened in between is worth the attention of every contractor who has ever hesitated over an entry-level hire.
The Lesson He Resisted Most
Jeremy’s class trained in 2020, during the COVID shutdown. Ask him what he took away, and he doesn’t start with a trade skill or a certification. He starts with the clock.
“I used to be annoyed at how my instructors pressed us about being on time,” he says. “Now that I’m in the field, I understand the importance and value of being on time.”
That’s not a small thing. Punctuality, reliability, and accountability are the habits contractors say they need most and find hardest to teach. Project JumpStart builds them into every week of training, alongside hands-on construction instruction, OSHA-10, First Aid/CPR, and job-readiness preparation.
From Placement to Ownership
After graduation, Project JumpStart connected Jeremy with a mechanical insulation company. He did well there, but he wanted more. So, while working full time, he took night classes and earned his CDL in 2021.
In 2022, he started his own business. By 2024, it was profitable. Then an opportunity came through his network: a friend was contacted about a role at Kiewit, didn’t have the credentials, and recommended Jeremy instead. With his resume and certifications in hand, Jeremy was ready.
Weighing his family’s needs, including access to health insurance, he accepted the position and shifted from driving for his business to managing it.
“I use everything I’ve learned from PJS on this job,” he says. “Especially the values and principles taught. Punctuality and networking. And as a mechanic, I use every one of the trade skills.”
Safety by Choice, Not by Mandate
Jeremy’s goals now center on safety. He plans to earn additional safety certifications and grow within the company. He also discovered a talent for writing and delivering speeches, which has opened doors to new responsibilities on the jobsite.
His long-term vision is to travel with the company and speak to crews from a craft perspective.
“We are trying to promote safety by choice, not by mandate,” he says.
For employers, that mindset is the difference between a worker who follows the rules and a worker who helps build the culture.
Why This Matters for Your Workforce
The talent gap isn’t going away. Associated Builders and Contractors estimates the industry needs to attract roughly 349,000 net new workers in 2026 just to meet demand for construction services. ABC points to retirements of industry veterans as a primary driver, which means the experienced workers contractors rely on today are steadily leaving the field.
Filling that gap requires looking at candidates differently. Many of the people ready to step into construction careers have taken nontraditional paths and may have faced barriers to employment. What they often need is not a lower standard, but a real opportunity paired with preparation and support.
Jeremy puts it directly: “Someone with my background is really building a vital piece of Baltimore, working for a very respected and reputable company. It truly shows and proves that we are redeemable.”
A Message to Employers on the Fence
Asked what he’d tell a contractor unsure about hiring a Project JumpStart graduate, Jeremy didn’t hesitate.
“Give them a chance. I personally know these are people who just need an opportunity. I am a product of PJS.”
Project JumpStart works with contractors and employers across the Baltimore region to connect them with trained, prepared graduates at no cost to the employer. Beyond placement, our team supports onboarding, communication, and retention so new hires have the best opportunity to succeed.
If you’re hiring, let’s talk. Looking for your next great hire? Meet some of Project JumpStart’s great candidates and learn how we can help connect you with trained, prepared talent: https://projectjumpstarttraining.org/candidates/. Every Career in Construction Starts Somewhere: Celebrating Careers in Construction Month
Every October, the construction industry pauses to recognize the people who build our communities. Careers in Construction Month is a national observance that raises public awareness and appreciation of craft professionals and the entire construction workforce, according to a 2026 state proclamation. Across the country, industry groups encourage members to share their own construction career journeys to help put a face to the professionals working in the industry.
For Project JumpStart, this October carries extra meaning. 2026 marks 20 years of Project JumpStart’s work in Baltimore, two decades of graduates, employers, instructors, and partners who have helped open doors into the trades. This month, we are celebrating both the industry and the people who chose to build a career in it.
The Industry Needs New Talent
The demand for skilled workers is real. Associated Builders and Contractors estimates the industry needs to attract 349,000 net new workers in 2026, rising to 456,000 in 2027, according to ABC’s 2026 workforce analysis. ABC’s chief economist noted that most of this year’s new worker demand is driven by retirements rather than increased construction spending. In other words, experienced tradespeople are leaving, and someone needs to be ready to step in.
Employers feel that gap every day. In AGC’s 2026 Workforce Survey released in September, 87 percent of firms reported openings for hourly craft positions, and 88 percent of firms with those openings said the roles were as hard or harder to fill than a year earlier. The same survey found that 36 percent of firms started or increased spending on training and professional development, a sign that the industry is investing in how new workers are prepared.
Where Project JumpStart, Inc. Fits In
For 20 years, Project JumpStart has focused on one question: how do we help Baltimore residents who are ready to work get prepared for the construction industry, and get connected to it?
Our pre-apprenticeship program combines hands-on construction instruction with the credentials and preparation employers look for. Participants earn OSHA 10 certification and CPR and First Aid training, complete 87 hours of job readiness training, and receive financial education and employer exposure along the way. Drug testing is part of the program, so graduates arrive at the job site ready to work.
We also know that training is only one part of the journey. Transportation, finances, and family responsibilities can stand between a graduate and a steady job. That is why PJSI launched JumpStart Wheels with Vehicles for Change, a pathway designed to help eligible employed graduates access reliable transportation. And through our collaboration with ABC Greater Baltimore, participants learn about registered apprenticeship opportunities that can help them keep growing after their first job.
For Anyone Considering a Career in Construction
Construction is not one job. It is carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, heavy civil, site safety, project management, and much more. Many of the professionals leading projects today started at the entry level, learning on the job and building their skills one project at a time.
If you are a Baltimore resident looking for a new direction, Careers in Construction Month is a good time to take the first step. Project JumpStart can help you build the foundation, earn industry-recognized credentials, and connect with employers who are hiring.
For Employers Who Need Prepared Workers
If your firm is feeling the hiring pressure, Project JumpStart can be a partner in your pipeline. Our employer engagement is free, and graduates can showcase their skills and experience on the TradeScouts Talent Board. Through JumpStart Your Team, PJSI is also building flexible pathways, including short-term and trial-period opportunities, that let contractors get to know qualified graduates on real projects.
Celebrate With Us This October
Twenty years in, our goal remains the same: to make sure Baltimore residents who are ready to work have access to high-quality construction training and the connections and support to build lasting careers.
Ready to start your construction career? Apply today.
Hiring for your next project? Check out our Great Candidates