It is estimated that 29% of the construction workforce will retire by 2026. By 2031, this number worsens as 41% of the current workforce is expected to retire. Essentially, almost half of the workforce will need to be replaced in just over a decade. With the opportunity to continue to move up in the industry, there is no limit to how high a craft professional can go. With experience, expertise and passion – a craftsperson could become an executive, CEO or owner of their own company. In construction, the only thing limiting your career growth is your desire to move up. (Source: byf.org)

With seven out of every 10 jobs available in the United States requiring less than a four-year degree, the current job market is oversaturated with college graduates. By pursuing a craft career, you will be opening yourself up to more possibilities and opportunities. When you complete a technical degree, apprenticeship or craft training certificate, you are highly marketable in the job market. Additionally, with a skills gap and upcoming wave of retirees, there will be a demand for 1 million craft professionals by 2023. This is a staggering deficit, but it makes room for a lot of opportunity for new craftspeople. (Source: byf.org)

With such a high demand for craft professionals, companies are willing to spend more to get the skills they need. For those in the construction industry, this means they are getting paid higher salaries than ever before. When you factor in these high salaries, less debt and the ability to start earning a wage as an apprentice, craft professionals are getting an early start on making enough money to live comfortably. Each of these benefits alone is enough to make a career in construction worth exploring. But when you look at them together, it is hard to believe they can all come with a single career choice. (Source: byf.org)