When young people imagine their futures, how often do they think about the flooring industry?
Many have never been introduced to the opportunities within our industry. They may not realize that flooring offers rewarding careers in installation, sales, estimating, project management, warehousing, manufacturing and business leadership.
FCEF is working to change that.
Today, FCEF programs are available through 50 schools in 21 states, including four high school programs. Our growing footprint reaches Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
More than 1,000 students have received training through FCEF-supported programs, and over $1 million in scholarships has helped individuals access education and begin their careers. This progress demonstrates what is possible when education and industry work together, but we are still building the foundation.
As I visit schools and speak with students, instructors and employers, I am reminded that young people are not rejecting skilled careers. Too often, they simply do not know that flooring is an option. Other trades actively introduce themselves, explain their career pathways and show students what they can earn and achieve. Flooring must be equally intentional.
I have watched students light up when they realize these skills can open doors they had never considered.
We cannot expect quality talent to find us if we are not inviting them in. We must show this generation that flooring offers more than a job. It offers practical skills, advancement, stability and the opportunity to build a meaningful career.
FCEF will continue expanding into new communities, developing partnerships and increasing awareness. However, FCEF cannot be the only voice inviting people into our industry. Students, parents, educators and workforce organizations need to hear a unified message from all of us.
That message must also reflect the full workforce supporting a flooring business.
FCEF’s Basic Floor Covering Installation Program was developed to prepare new installation professionals, but its value is not limited to those who plan to install flooring.
If you sell labor, understanding installation matters.
A retail sales associate who understands installation fundamentals can better explain product requirements, recognize potential jobsite concerns and help customers select flooring that meets their needs. That knowledge also helps the RSA communicate effectively with estimators, project managers and installers.
When labor is sold without an understanding of installation, important details can be missed. This can lead to incorrect expectations, unsuitable product selections, scheduling problems and preventable jobsite challenges.
Installation education helps RSAs sell labor correctly while setting both the customer and installer up for success. FCEF schools can serve as training partners for new installers and current employees throughout a flooring business.
Dealers can help by hiring students and graduates, sponsoring scholarships, providing mentors, donating tools and materials, and encouraging employees to participate in training. Even one introduction, opportunity or investment can change someone’s future.
The future of flooring will not build itself. It will require schools, employers, manufacturers, distributors, associations and individuals working together to attract and develop quality people.
FCEF is building the pathways, but our entire industry must help the next generation discover and follow them. Together, we can invite talented people in, equip them to succeed and strengthen the businesses and communities depending on them.
That is more than workforce development. It is a future worth building.
Kaye Whitener is executive director of the Floor Covering Education Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting recruitment, training and retention of floor covering installers. For more information, email kwhitener@fcef.org.