Careers in Residential Construction

Critical Need: A Skilled Workforce

A homebuilder’s ability to provide quality housing at affordable pricing is becoming more difficult as labor sources continue to diminish. In a time during which the demand for housing in Texas – and across the country – cannot be met without significant construction delays, it is imperative that homebuilders and their trade partners work with their local schools, technical and community colleges, and home builders associations to develop the training and encourage interest among students – as early as 7th graders – to pursue careers within the residential construction industry to help solve this critical shortage of a skilled construction workforce. That can only be accomplished by developing a pipeline of skilled craftsmen.

Reinventing the Construction Workforce

While the makeup of construction workers is becoming more diverse, it still has a long way to go before we see equal representation in the workforce.

7% of construction professionals are Hispanic or Latino
2% are Black
2% are Asian
10% are female

Construction means more than manual labor. It involves planning, critical thinking, communication, leadership, teamwork, and problem solving. Changing the perception of construction as a professional career choice is an issue that needs to be solved, beginning with having trades professionals visit classrooms to talk about how they got started in the industry, what a typical day on the job site looks like, and what they like about their job, thereby providing students with greater awareness of the variety of construction jobs available today. Hearing directly from someone who actually works in the industry can be a powerful experience for students. It shows authenticity – something Gen X finds very important – and helps convey the passion and enthusiasm craft professionals have for working in the skilled trades. Field trips are also a great educational tool; they provide students with the opportunity to put on a hard hat and see first-hand the complexities of the work and the variety of tasks that go into residential construction.

Today’s young people have never known life without technology. January 1, 1983 is considered the official birthday of the internet; in 1995 commercial internet access started to be sold to consumers (History.com). Although technology cannot take the place of boots-on-the-ground skilled tradesmen, today’s emerging workforce likely has not considered construction as a career, perhaps because they’re not aware of some of the technology used in construction. A few examples are:

3D Modeling. Software such as computer-aided design (CAD) and building information modeling (BIM) looks at a construction project in a detailed, three-dimensional space even before any dirt is moved.
VR and AR. Virtual and augmented reality gives construction teams the ability to step on site without actually going to the job site. Simulators help students get a feel for the work before trying out the real thing for the first time.
An increasingly popular tool on construction sites, drones help by allowing site inspectors to conduct inspections remotely, thus saving time. Drones can also be used to monitor projects in real time, helping to spot potential problems or unsafe site conditions and warning managers and crews before they encounter then.

In helping your child prepare for their future, there are numerous considerations:

What are they good at?
What do they enjoy doing?
Can they find a job doing those things?
How much will that job pay?
Will that job be safe?
How much will the education required for that job cost?

The belief that obtaining a four-year degree is the only way for people to be successful in their careers has been ingrained in our culture for decades. A college degree, however, is not the only option for a successful career. Facts: seven out of every 10 jobs do not require a college degree; college debt averages almost $31,000 per student; and 30% of college freshmen drop out before their sophomore year.

Construction Training is Higher Education

Higher education is defined as “various types of education given in postsecondary (after high school) institutions of learning and usually affording, at the end of a course of study, a named degree, diploma, or certificate of higher studies” (Encyclopedia Britannica).

Construction trades programs are often overlooked when higher education opportunities are being considered. The education behind trades like carpentry, electrical, welding, and pipefitting is every bit as rigorous and rewarding as most college degrees and sets up students for careers that make a difference and pay well. It’s time we start looking at construction trades training as a true form of higher education. Craft education can have both secondary and postsecondary components; an example would be a high school carpentry class or a pre-apprenticeship program. The majority, however, of in-depth trades training happens at the postsecondary level. Unlike a college degree program, this education is split between classroom work and on-the-job training; this allows students to earn while they learn, being paid for their on-site labor with wages that increase in proportion to their experience and time in the training program.

Colleges and universities provide degrees, diplomas, and transcripts; employers can quickly see a degree listed on a resume and understand the depth and quality of the graduate’s education. The modern construction industry has equivalent indicators of competency for craft professionals, apprentices, and trainees, including credentials, certifications, and licenses. It’s a common misconception that construction work is unskilled labor, that anyone can pick up a shovel or a hammer and do the job well. Would you want your home or office building built by a team of people with no education or formal skills training in the tasks required to build those structures?

Opportunities in construction are abundant. According to the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), in September 2021, the United States has 430,000 open construction jobs, and it is estimated that there will be shortage of 1 million construction trades professionals by 2023. The problem is projected to get worse, with an estimated 53% of the current construction workforce retiring by 2036. Demand means opportunities. With thousands of jobs available, it is easy for future craft professionals to find training and work.

Construction careers pay well with no college debt.
The average base salary of almost 30 different trades exceeds $55,000 annually. When adding in overtime, travel, and other potential incentives, it’s possible for skilled workers to earn six figures. (NCCER)
Moving up the ranks can happen quickly. In just a few years, a tradesman can go from an apprentice to a journeyman, and eventually to jobsite leadership positions such as foreman, project manager or superintendent.

It is significant to spread the message that construction careers were deemed “essential” (i.e., absolutely necessary) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This will help students, parents, and others understand that the construction industry is more secure than the many others that suffered economically during the near shut down of the country in 2020 – 2021. There will always be a demand for construction workers.

It’s Important to Know that Construction can be a Career, Not Just a Job

Young people entering the workforce do not want to spend the next 10 – 20 years crippled by student loans, unable to buy a home, invest, or start a family. They don’t want to work behind a desk or nine-to-five. They want flexibility and work-life balance. They want to help people – to experience the satisfaction that comes from solving another’s problems. All those things can be found in careers in residential construction. We are on the verge of a substantial change in how the trades are perceived and valued, and that change will benefit employers and young people who are just starting out.

There is the perception that construction is a dangerous industry, but safety is now a core part of the culture at any construction company. The top goal for any project is for everyone to go home healthy and well at the end of the day. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was formed to establish safety regulations and conduct inspections and investigations of safe practices in the workplace; personal protective equipment (PPE) is heavily emphasized; and improved and ongoing safety training including the proper use and storage of tools, materials and equipment is the norm – safety is a top priority in the construction industry.

With issues such as growing workforce shortages, housing availability, and rising student debt having an increasingly larger impact on the world, something as simple as the terminology we use to describe a particular educational path can make a big difference in how young people and their families weigh their education options. The jobs that make up the professional construction industry require unique training and skills to be done safely and correctly. Education in the construction trades prepares individuals to become successful and talented industry professionals. Construction training is a higher education option to a well-paying, in-demand job.

1946 – 1954:   Baby Boomers (Boomers I) – retired
1955 – 1965:   Generation Jones (Boomers II) – retired or retiring
1966 – 1976: Gen X – retiring over the next 15 years
1981 – 1996:   Gen Y (Millennial or Echo Boomers)
1997 – now:    Gen Z (zoomers)
Born between 2011 – 2025:   Gen Alpha (children of Millennials)

In 2021, the United States is short 300,000 skilled workers, and it is estimated that there will be shortage of 1 million craft professionals by 2023. The problem is projected to get worse, with an estimated 53% of the current construction workforce retiring by 2036.