The construction industry has high employment projections and is expected to see substantial growth over the next few years. Construction and extraction occupations are expected to grow 11% between 2016 and 2026, faster than the 7% average forecast for all occupations. For construction and extraction, 758,400 new jobs are projected by 2026 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

However, the lack of skilled professionals in the industry is a problem and is one point of concern for future growth. An Associated General Contractors’ survey shows that 75% of firms expect to add headcount this year and that 78% of firms are having trouble finding qualified workers. In addition, 82% of firms expect it to remain difficult, or get harder, to find and hire qualified workers in 2018.

With high growth in the construction industry and the difficulty in filling positions, the time is ripe for setting yourself up in a career in construction.

Employers in the Industry      

The construction industry has a wealth of jobs across a broad spectrum of disciplines. And many employers are looking to fill them. Employers are broadly categorized as:

• Consultants, who plan and design the construction work. Consultants understand the design brief and transform it into a workable plan. Plans are detailed and include accurate quantities, costs, and methods needed to complete the project. Consultants include architects, surveyors, and
• Contractors, who physically build the design to the plan specifications. These are the people on the construction site, reading and interpreting the plan, along with transforming what they see on paper into the final and finished construction. These roles include a range of disciplines from brick masons to machinery operators.
• Subcontractors, who are people employed by contractors to do specialized work. They might be specialists in foundations, steel or electricity, and are needed to complete highly skilled tasks that require specific training or experience.

Armed with the above, here is our take on the fastest growing careers in the construction industry.

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