The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor is the principal Federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy.
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Careers in construction: Building
opportunity
Elka Torpey | August 2018
Perhaps you enjoy working with your hands on projects that will be around for years to come. Or maybe you’re
looking for a job that pays well and has a promising future. These are among the many reasons to consider a
career in construction.
In June 2018, there were 263,000 job openings in the construction industry, according to preliminary estimates
from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Through 2026, BLS projects faster-than-average employment
growth in the industry. What’s more, its median annual wage of $45,820 in 2017 surpassed the $37,690 median
wage for all industries.
And although some occupations in the construction industry typically require a college degree, you can enter many
others with a high school diploma or less education. Read on to learn about construction careers.
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Career Outlook
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Rebounding employment
Preliminary BLS data show that there were 7.2 million construction jobs in July 2018. That marks the highest
employment level for the construction industry in a decade.
Leading into and through the Great Recession, the industry experienced declines in employment. In recent years,
however, employment has trended upward. (See chart 1.)
BLS expects continued expansion of employment in the construction industry, with more than 7.5 million jobs
projected by 2026 as population growth spurs demand for new buildings and infrastructure.
Occupations by subsector
The construction industry comprises three subsectors: specialty trade contractors, construction of buildings, and
heavy and civil engineering construction. Employment in all of these subsectors is projected to grow over the
2016–26 decade, with more than half (485,600) of the new jobs overall expected in specialty trade contractors.
Construction of buildings and heavy and civil engineering construction are projected to add 170,300 and 208,800
jobs, respectively. Wages vary by occupation.
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS