Shining a spotlight on careers in construction

September 9, 2019

In recognition of all the professionals working in residential and commercial construction and to highlight the rewarding careers available in the industry. The Building Industry Association of Central SC (BIA) and Midlands Education and Business Alliance (MEBA) will host an industry-wide job shadowing event for construction. This event, scheduled for October 10, 2019, will be offered to students who are interested in a career in industrial technologies such as mason, concrete, electric, plumbing, carpentry, architecture, engineering, project management, and more. The purpose of this job shadow is to provide students with an interest in construction careers the opportunity to observe and engage in the industry first hand.

Participating students will be at least 16 years of age and a sophomore in high school, and who have expressed an interest in learning more about the construction industry. Job shadow experiences should last at least 3 hours and up to 6 hours or length of the school day, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

A home builder relies on a number of highly trained workers to get the job done right. This includes dozens of skilled artisans and professionals, including carpenters, architects, engineers, plumbers, electricians, painters and landscapers. Analysis from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) shows that 70% of builders typically use somewhere between 11 and 30 subcontractors to build a single-family home.

As the housing market continues to strengthen, home builders across the country and here in the Midlands of South Carolina are seeking skilled workers – such as carpenters, framers and roofers – to help them build the American Dream. According to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce most recent labor market analysis, the projected employment growth for construction jobs in the Midlands region alone is 28.07% through 2022. This projection has caused great concern across the construction industry as organizations compete for workers from the same labor pool.

This means that there is ample opportunity for motivated students seeking a rewarding career path. Residential construction workers consistently express high job satisfaction, and average salaries in central South Carolina remain competitive with other industries in the area. The building trades offer a great career path, and the construction industry is one of the few sectors where demand for new workers is rising. Parents, teachers, counselors and students must once again recognize that a vocational education can offer satisfying career paths and financial gains.

To learn more about the job shadowing event on October 10th and construction career opportunities contact the BIA of Central SC www.BIAofCentralSC.com or MEBA www.mebasc.com.