Why Now’s a Great Time to Start in Construction

After the housing crisis, millions of construction professionals left the industry. Now, business is booming, but there aren’t enough people to meet demand. This means that companies are having to pay higher wages and work harder to attract skilled workers for their businesses and projects. People with the right knowledge and experience could secure a great career that was all but unheard-of 10 years ago. If you’re thinking about a career in construction, here’s five reasons you picked a great time to start out.

There’s Hundreds of Thousands of Construction Jobs Available
At this moment, there are about 360,000 open jobs in construction jobs. And it’s not like the field is narrowing anytime soon. The industry added 224,000 positions just in the past year, with jobs growing every day. The more that the labor market tightens, the more desperate organizations and companies become to meet their building obligations. Although housing in places like Los Angeles or San Francisco tends to be the visual representation of this industry, most of the growth is happening in non-residential construction.

Higher-Paying, Skilled Positions Are Most in Demand
As anyone who has tried to find a job in today’s market can attest, there’s a job, and then there’s a good career. No one’s comforted by a dramatic increase in available jobs, if most of them pay minimum wage with no benefits. But this is not the case in construction. The biggest hole in the construction labor market is skilled labor. Lots of people who started in the 1960s to the 1980s are retiring and leaving their positions empty. Many who run successful businesses are closing up shop instead of selling because they can’t find qualified pros to take their place. This means that people who want to start a business in skilled positions like electrician or plumber are in an ideal place to secure a high-paying, long-term career.

Businesses Can’t Afford to Lose Good Employees or Subcontractors
The labor shortage in construction isn’t just paying out the day you get hired. It is also yielding benefits years into the future. Once you get a job, there’s not much that ties you to the company except what they can offer you. Businesses understand this, so they are increasing wages and benefits to keep workers happy. This means that you are in a prime position to negotiate for the things you want the most, such as:

• profit sharing
• extra paid time off
• better health insurance
• retirement planning
• As a contracting business, this does mean that you might have to do more to keep your own employees and subcontractors satisfied. But doing so allows you to finish more projects.

Technical Training and Licenses Are a Bonus
It’s not a mystery how the industry got to this point. Decades ago, the country prioritized education at a college or university over technical training in a professional trade. As a result, technical training isn’t exactly rare, but it’s far less common than it used to be. If you take advantage of training and put in the time to get your license, you’ll be in a position to secure higher pay and more options for a career.

You’ve Got Tons of Options
There are certain fields where the labor shortage is felt most acutely. However, the pressure to fill jobs happens all over the market. This is true worldwide. If you’re interested in taking your contracting business to a global level, you may discover a surprising amount of demand for it. In almost any aspect of the industry, you’ll find effects of the shortage. Your biggest limitation here is your own interests and ambitions.

There’s always going to be demand in construction, but rarely as much as there is right now. If you’re looking for the perfect career that offers you upward mobility, tons of potential and the ability to set your own terms, construction can provide it. Get in on the ground floor and you’ll be reaping the benefits in no time. We can help you refine your skills and obtain the license you need to establish yourself as an authority. To start building your career in construction, visit CSLS today!