How To Find a Job in the Construction Industry

Construction is facing a labor shortage, making now a good time to explore new jobs within the industry, especially as industry leaders push for better DEI initiatives. Beyond job site or fieldwork, construction boasts several roles from engineering and project management to marketing and accounting. You may need to attend a trade school/program, obtain an apprenticeship or shadow a current construction professional to find the ideal job for you — in addition to gaining the necessary skills.

By Mariah Flores

Have you been dreaming of career reinvention? You’re not alone. 

Nearly 50 million Americans quit or changed their careers in 2021 and this pivoting doesn’t show signs of slowing down anytime soon.

While common, career pivots can be downright intimidating, especially given the impact changing careers has on your personal and professional life. 

Harvard Business Review (HBR) writes, “Whether you’re looking to explore a side hustle or join an entirely different field, it can be daunting to leave one role and start something new. Are you making the right decision? Are you ready emotionally? When should you make the leap, if at all?”

One thing you can do to ease your worries is explore new career paths or industries, like construction, an industry filled with a multitude of job opportunities.

Construction Is Filled With Job Opportunities

Construction is a major contributor to the economy, according to The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). “The industry has more than 745,000 employers with over 7.6 million employees and creates nearly $1.4 trillion worth of structures each year.”

That said, the industry is filled with a plethora of different specialties and roles, from construction laborers and helpers and engineers to human resources and project managers. And that fact alone is a great benefit to prospective employees.

“Traditional construction career paths include project management, field supervision and craft-oriented roles such as carpentry, concrete finishing and heavy equipment operation. But there are a lot more beyond that,” states Jake Preissler, director of recruiting at Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC. 

Looking for corporate work? Construction has you covered, with Preissler sharing that the corporate side of the construction industry offers “stable, long-term career opportunities in human resources, accounting, finance, IT, training, recruiting, personal development, risk management and more.” 

“I believe there is an opportunity for any interested person to find a home in the construction industry,” Preissler adds.

In addition to a diverse range of employment opportunities, construction is a great sector for those looking to break free of the mundane.

For Samantha Cook, chief financial officer at Brinkmann Constructors, working in construction means that no one day is exactly the same. “On a given day, you can interact with roles so different in scope, yet all align to one result: building a quality building [or structure].”

Additional construction roles — as Preissler highlights — include, but aren’t limited to: 

• Estimators
• Data analysts
• Cost engineers
• General counsel
• Safety engineers
• Business development
• Marketing coordinators
• Insurance-risk managers

Construction organizations require all sorts of expertise and occupations to operate, with one distinct goal in common: building quality projects. “In my 15-plus years of experience, every time I've hired or led teams that are diverse in roles, we all have the same goal: to build a quality building,” says Cook.

So when picking the right role in construction, take into consideration any transferable skills, interests, or possible skill gaps that can impact your ability to secure a new job.

Construction Professionals Are in Demand 

A career in construction has the potential to be a rewarding and long-term career … and companies are actively seeking workers.

The current U.S. job market for construction is highly competitive, as Mckinsey and Company reports a widening labor shortage. Just in April alone, there were 444,000 job openings within the industry. If you want to pivot into a construction role, now may be a good time to do so. 

“Demand for construction professionals is seemingly endless and I don’t believe that will change anytime soon. It’s a very lucrative, stable, long-term career,” Preissler says. “At Brasfield & Gorrie, we have more than 1,000 employees who have worked for the company for more than 10 years.”

Another Benefit of Working in the Construction Industry

Passionate about an employer’s corporate social responsibility or diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives? 

Industry leaders, like AGC, are making “significant strides toward reshaping the narrative around a career in construction and targeting new, diverse talent to join the industry,” writes the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. By increasing diversity and inclusion, through diverse talent pools, employers can better keep up with demand. 

As you search for a new job in the construction industry, make sure to ask questions during interviews about company culture, actionable DEI initiatives and any other benefit that you value in a job.  

Getting Started In Construction

The construction industry is going through a significant labor shortage, which Cook says is causing industry leaders to approach recruiting and talent development differently than 20 years ago — use it to your advantage. 

“[T]his labor shortage has re-educated us, industry leaders, to approach talent acquisition and development in different ways. Even if you don't have experience, we are interested in you because of your desire. That said, there is work for you to do.”

A job in construction is typically built on skills and continued learning, so if you’re starting out with little to no experience, focus on how you can best develop your skills set — which may involve training or even job shadowing. It really depends on where you hope to land, position-wise because not every construction job requires a college degree.

Both Cook and Jessica McMahan, preconstruction-turned-supplier diversity manager at Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC recommend getting into construction by way of trade schools/programs, apprenticeships or job shadowing. 

Cook says, “Research the construction companies that exist locally and visit their websites — research through LinkedIn and network with people who can help you open a door. You'll be surprised how much you can get by reaching out to people” 

Another easy way to get started in construction is by gaining employment in one role, then growing from there.

“And then another way … to really grow is, and a lot of companies will start this way, is to start as an assistant within pre-construction. Because that is really where you learn how everything operates, how the job gets put together, how we get our pricing, [etc.]. And then from there a lot of companies will transition you over to project management.”

The requirements for each construction job and/or company varies, so make sure you thoroughly read job descriptions and connect with others in the field to learn about their career paths.

Finally, don’t let lack of experience stop you from finding a new job in the construction industry. Many construction companies, as Cook alluded to earlier, are turning their hiring focus to a candidate’s desire — the “Why do you want to work here?” element.

I leave all those interested in construction with these words of advice from Preissler, “Show your passion, have a great attitude and ask a lot of questions. We often hire individuals who do not necessarily have direct experience in construction”

Top Takeaways 

Reinvent your current career path and explore a career in the construction industry.

• Construction is a major contributor to the economy, with more than 745,000 employers and 7.6 million employees.
• The roles available within construction vary greatly, from jobs requiring degrees (like engineering) or trade professions (like construction laborers and helpers).
• Construction professionals are in high demand right, so brush up your skills, attend trade school and network with current professionals.