Alabama Construction Trades

Why
Construction?

AMERICA WASN’T BUILT FROM BEHIND A DESK. And here’s a thought: your career doesn’t have to be either. Because no matter what you’ve heard, great careers don’t always begin with a four-year degree and end in a corner office. Welcome to industrial and commercial construction, where the education is hands-on, the work is rewarding and careers are built from the ground up.

2,875: The number of construction job openings in Alabama each year.

The Situation

With more than 7.2 million employees nationwide, industrial and commercial construction has long been one of the nation’s largest industries. But today, construction company owners across the nation and right here in Alabama are facing a growing shortage of tradesmen such as pipefitters, steel workers, boilermakers, electricians and carpenters.

But when you learn a construction trade, the industry's big problem can become your big break. The skills of construction tradesmen are in high demand, and with a 19% projected growth rate through 2018, the construction industry has the potential to take you farther (and pay you more) than the corporate ladder ever could.

47: The age of the average construction tradesmen.
AMERICA’S AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS: $914 for commercial construction tradesmen, $608 for everyone else.

The Salary

WHEN YOU GET INTO COMMERCIAL
CONSTRUCTION, SKYSCRAPERS AREN’T
ALL YOU’LL BE BUILDING.

You’ll also have the opportunity to build a strong career with great potential — all without sinking into student debt. You do the math: Alabama students who earn a traditional four-year degree graduate with an average of $23,768 in student loan debt, an amount that can take years to pay off. Now, there's nothing wrong with four-year degrees, but there is something wrong with acting like they're the only path to success. After all, skilled construction tradesmen can earn higher starting salaries than the average college graduate. And with multiple opportunities for fast-track advancement and lots of specialties to choose from, the earning potential for a career in construction is virtually unlimited.

$47,528: AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY FOR NONRESIDENTIAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION NATIONWIDE. 10+YEARS: THAT'S HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE 39% OF COLLEGE GRADS TO PAY OFF THEIR STUDENT LOANS.
Did you know? FOR EVERY FOUR PEOPLE WHO LEAVE THE TRADES, ONLY ONE NEW PERSON IS SUPPLIED BY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS TO ENTER THE TRADES.

The Skills

IN ALABAMA, GETTING THE TRAINING
YOU NEED FOR THE CAREER YOU WANT
HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER.

From pipefitters and boilermakers to electricians and brick masons, every construction tradesman’s career is built on the same foundation: solid skills learned through pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships or community college.

Choose from apprenticeship programs and community colleges, as well as the opportunities offered by the Construction Education Foundation of Alabama.

440,000: THAT’S HOW MANY AMERICANS BECOME CONSTRUCTION APPRENTICES EACH YEAR.