Construction jobs peaked in the early months of 2007, just before the shockwave of the Great Recession reverberated across the economy. Most of these jobs were in housing construction, as the so-called “liar loans” of the preceding years created unprecedented (and unstable) demand for homeownership. By the spring of 2009, construction jobs had nearly disappeared, declining ten fold from peak to trough.
Since then, construction jobs have been on a steady incline and have nearly recovered to pre-recession levels. But there are two key differences between then and now: most of the construction jobs available now are for large-scale infrastructure projects and, more importantly, there is a dire shortage of available labor to fill these roles.
It stands to reason: during the recession, former construction workers had to look elsewhere to support themselves and earn livable salaries.
Many who were previously employed in the industry developed new skills, gained more education, and moved on to different types of jobs. Now, with so many new positions available, it may be the time for workers to consider a return to construction.
Using the ZipRecruiter Opportunity Index, which gauges the ratio of available jobs to job applicants, we determined the top five infrastructure jobs and where to find them. In every case, both in location and job title, the opportunity index indicates there are more jobs available now than there are applicants to fill them.
The 5 Best Cities for Infrastructure Jobs
| Metro Area | Opportunity Index |
|---|---|
| Binghamton, NY | 16.2 |
| Kennewick-Richland-Pasco, WA | 8.2 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 2.0 |
| Jackson, MS | 1.8 |
| Madison, WI | 1.7 |
Judging from the Opportunity Index, infrastructure jobs are in high demand in the Binghamton metro region, also known as the Triple Cities. The main engine of growth in this area of upstate New York is Binghamton University, which has implemented a massive expansion plan to be completed by 2020. The university has a $1 billion annual impact on the region, and its current portfolio of projects has an estimated budget exceeding $184 million.
Not far behind Binghamton is the Kennewick, WA metro. This area is often overlooked in favor of Seattle (its booming tech hub neighbor), but when it comes to infrastructure, the Port of Kennewick is growing by leaps and bounds. Set on the Columbia River, this metro is developing projects ranging from improved logistics facilities to becoming a more attractive tourist destination.
The Top 5 Infrastructure Jobs
| Job Title | Opportunity Index |
|---|---|
| Excavation Laborer | 5.1 |
| Traffic Control Specialist | 3.2 |
| Water Restoration Technician | 2.5 |
| Master Plumber | 1.6 |
| Truss Designer | 1.0 |
With the massive amount of infrastructure projects planned and underway in the U.S., it’s no surprise that Excavation Laborers are in high demand. These are entry-level roles that play an integral part in any infrastructure project. Given the demand for such workers, development companies are paying increasingly high wages. Pay currently tops out at more than $30 per hour for these jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Most of the top jobs provide entry-level opportunities, but demand remains for highly-skilled labor as well. Master Plumbers performing at the top of their field can easily fetch six-figure salaries. With nearly two job openings for every applicant in this role, negotiating power is high if you have the right skills to offer.
America’s aging infrastructure notably took center stage when President Obama signed the Recovery Act in 2009, setting aside $50 billion to create jobs and improve our infrastructure. That political push has continued through the current administration, and Congress has already funded $21 billion in infrastructure spending since President Trump took office. Between robust government funding and the clear need to rebuild our infrastructure, we’re confident these jobs will only continue to grow in the future.
