construction jobs employment

Following on a theme I developed in an earlier blog post, Shrinking labor workforce means good things for those entering construction jobs, I have decided this week to publish a two part article on how and why the youth of America should consider construction careers, whether straight from high school or after earning a four-year degree.

The chart on the left, courtesy of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, illustrates a compelling reason for the 34.2 percent of 2006 high school graduates who did not choose to attend college to consider construction careers.

According to the BLS, construction employment is projected to increase by 11.4 percent by 2014.  Likely to continue climbing with these employment numbers are the wages.  As I pointed out earlier, the construction industry is facing a huge exodus of baby boomer workers over the next two decades (Nearly 49 percent of its workforce, according to the executive director of CEFGA, Scott Shelar).

If a four year degree just isn’t for you, consider visiting CEFGA’s website (for Georgia residents only), or your equivalent local industry organization.  They will easily point you in the right direction, whether you are a parent, a student, or a business leader looking to help. 

In response to impending labor and talent shortages, more and more companies are launching internal “development” programs, providing education and training to individuals who entered the industry with drive and ambition.

Indeed, whether a high school or college graduate, Rhinana Barr, Corporate Human Resources Manager for Morrison Homes, says this quality is one of, if not the, most important to have in order to be successful in the industry.  “I’m looking for someone who is motivated, passionate, and driven!” she explained, “someone who really wants a foot in the door and…uses all the information they can to improve themselves for future possibilities.”

Check back next week to see my full articles, and to find out the top five things students can do to make themselves more desireable to construction companies!