Southern California Partnership for Jobs advocates for responsible investment in public infrastructure projects to help fix our aging transportation networks, water, sewer and storm drain systems. In turn, these projects provide stable construction jobs that support families and the economy in Southern California.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics agrees. “Repairing and replacing the nation’s infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and water lines, may result in steady demand for construction laborers,” states the Bureau — noting that demand for workers in all fields of construction is expected to mirror “the anticipated increase in construction activity over the coming decade.”
Employment of construction workers is projected to grow at a much faster pace than average over the next decade. According to the Bureau’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, overall employment of construction laborers and helpers is projected to grow at a healthy rate of 11% from 2018 to 2028. In addition, employment of construction managers is projected to grow 10% over the same period. These rates are double the average growth rate for all occupations, which is just 5%.
Projections for California are even more robust, with growth outstripping the strong national projections. The Projections Managing Partnership, which is funded by the U.S. Dept of Labor, says California will grow its workforce of construction laborers by 18.5% in the 2016-2026 decade, adding 23,000 new jobs. And the number of construction managers in the Golden State is projected to grow 17.9%, with 9,500 new jobs added.
California is already a hotbed for construction work – ranking #2 in the nation among states with the highest employment level of construction laborers, and #1 for employment of construction managers. These construction jobs are not only plentiful but also well paid; California ranks in the top strata nationally for annual wages of construction workers. And according to the Bureau, union workers have access to higher wages, typically earning 18% more than non-union workers.
These increased workforce opportunities bode well for qualified union construction workers seeking well-paying jobs in the Southern California region.
