In-Demand Skilled Trades In The Construction Industry

Dreaming of a career with demand?

The construction industry is experiencing an unprecedented worker shortage. In fact, it’s expected to widen. According to the Associated Builders and Contractors there will be a need for 439,000 more workers in the construction industry come 2025.

Here’s the catch:

It also means tons of opportunity for anyone willing to learn one of these skilled trades. Not only are jobs plentiful and pay competitive, skilled trades can’t easily be outsourced or automated.

Post Contents

Let’s dive in:

Why Skilled Trades Jobs Are in High Demand
The Highest In-Demand Construction Trades
How To Get Into a Skilled Trade Career
Top Training Options To Consider

Why Skilled Trades Jobs Are In High Demand Right Now

Simple. There’s a ton of construction projects going on.

New homes are being built. Commercial buildings are going up. Cities are investing in infrastructure improvements and new roads.

Yet there aren’t enough workers to handle the load.

Trade professions like HVAC, electrician, and plumbing will lose nearly 40% of their workforce to retirement in the next 10 years.

That’s where you come in.

If you want to get into a trade like HVAC, HVAC technician training can fast track you into a rewarding career. Quality hands-on certification programs have your best interest in mind by offering flexible schedules, career guidance, and apprenticeships.

Job prospects for HVAC techs, plumbers, electricians, and more are excellent. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects roughly 488,000 openings for construction trades positions every year over the next decade.

Yes, that means plenty of opportunities for you to learn a trade and make great money doing it.

Another great thing about skilled trade jobs?

They pay well from day one. In 2024, the median annual wage across all construction and extraction occupations was $58,360.

Highest In-Demand Construction Trades

Not all skilled trades are created equal.

While many trades jobs are growing at faster than average clip, there are a few that stand head-and-shoulders above the rest.

HVAC Technician

HVAC technician hands-on training leads to one of the most sought-after careers in construction right now. Here’s why:

Every home. Office building. Hospital. School. Factory. needs HVAC systems.

They require installation. Maintenance. And repair from trained experts.

The BLS reports employment growth of 8% from 2024 to 2034 is expected for HVAC technicians. Much faster than average.

Want to know the best part?

There will be roughly 40,100 openings for HVAC jobs each year. With a median annual wage of $59,810.

As we become more energy conscious, HVAC job prospects should continue to rise. Older homes and buildings need upgraded systems. New construction needs installations. And green technology/renewable energy will create additional HVAC jobs moving forward.

Electrician

Electricians aren’t going anywhere.

Buildings need electricity to function. And they’ll need skilled electricians to wire them up.

Commercial data centres are a growing industry. Electric car charging stations need to be installed. Solar panel grid tie-ins require electrical know-how. Smart homes need wiring for technologies we haven’t even seen yet.

Expect electrician jobs to grow by 9% from now through 2034 according to the BLS.

That equates to about 81,000 annual job openings.

Here’s where you can work as an electrician:

Construction of new buildings
Installation of renewable energy solutions
Maintenance and upgrades to existing structures
Industrial job sites and manufacturing facilities

Plumbers and Pipefitters

Okay, you need water. We all do.

We can’t drink oil or sewage. Everyone needs plumbing fixtures to go about their daily lives. And our society isn’t transitioning away from waste water and sewage systems anytime soon.

Jobs for plumbers and pipefitters should grow by 4% over the next decade. Which, while not as high as other trades careers on this list, is still well above average.

Demand will be strongest in the industrial sector. Semiconductor manufacturers require skilled pipefitters. Oil refineries and manufacturing facilities need workers who can troubleshoot piping systems.

Welders

Welding is used in just about every industry imaginable.

Sure, there are tons of construction projects happening every day. Buildings need to be welded together. But don’t forget about manufacturing and processing jobs.

Cars. Planes. Ships. Buses. Gearboxes and transmissions. Bridges and tunnels. Pipelines. Steel structures.

Want more?

The work is varied and tends to pay well too.

Construction Manager

While we’re talking about jobs related to actual construction, what about managing it all?

If you like the sound of trades work but want to pursue something a little less hands-on there’s always construction management.

Construction managers oversee projects and typically require some experience in the trades before moving into an administrative role.

How To Break Into These Careers

The beautiful thing about learning a trade is that it’s never been easier to get started.

You don’t need a four year college degree to make solid money as a trade worker. While some jobs may require certifications or licenses (read: HVAC), many will not.

Here are your best training options:

Trade schools – These schools specialize in training workers for specific careers. Programs can range in duration but typically take several months to a couple years.
Apprenticeships – Learn on the job from an experienced professional.
Community college – Many offer vocational trade programs with hands-on training.
On-the-job training – Some employers are willing to train you from scratch.

The key is choosing a program that offers hands-on training. Books and theories are great. But when it comes to skilled trade jobs experience and practice matter most.

Pro tip: Look for programs that offer certification preparation. Many trade careers offer certifications that can drastically increase starting salaries. Things like EPA 608 certification for HVAC techs and state licensing for electricians.

Top Training Programs To Consider

Should you decide to pursue a trade career, where do you go to learn?

We scoured the internet to find some of the best trade programs around. Not all programs are created equal. So here are a few traits we look for:

Hands on training with real equipment
Industry certifications are included in tuition
Job placement assistance
Instructors with real-world experience
Flexible class scheduling

HVAC training should include hands-on training with actual HVAC units. Electrical programs should allow students to wire actual homes. Pipelining programs should teach you to weld on real pipes.

Apprenticeships also deserve a mention here. Many trade careers have union-associated apprenticeship programs that allow you to learn while working. Completing an apprenticeship is often a guaranteed path to employment with that company.

Wrapping It Up

Right now is the perfect time to learn a trade.

The construction industry is starving for workers. Across the country companies are searching for qualified workers to join their teams.

Job security. Good pay. Career advancement opportunities. The ability to help others.

What’s not to love?

Skilled trade jobs offer benefits most professions can’t match. Once you learn the necessary skills employers will fight over you to join their team. That leads to better wages and benefits.

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