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Our mission is to recruit, develop, and serve students of the construction industry by promoting innovative educational pathways to rewarding careers in an inclusive, highly-skilled and prosperous construction workforce.
CEF’s programs ensure Colorado’s workforce is keeping pace with increased demand based on the state’s growing population and economic expansion.
More than 7.2 million Americans are employed in the construction trades
45,000 new skilled trades workers are needed in Colorado by 2027 – 25% growth rate
Apprenticeship opportunities to earn while you learn with no student loan debt
The average median annual industry salary in Colorado is $61,559 plus benefits
Finding construction work is a bit different than seeking just a job in Denver or Colorado. Sometimes, people just search for construction jobs near me. If you are looking for more than just a job in construction you need to go beyond posted jobs and generic job seeker websites. You need to tell your potential employer who you are and why they should consider you over the other job seekers.
You should use construction industry networks and agencies, like Build Colorado, to market yourself on specific Colorado or Denver job boards and send targeted applications for construction jobs that match your skills and follow them up.
You should follow-up with employers and do your best to secure interviews with employers, as this often secures the job and a great career in construction.
If you would like to work as an employee for a construction contractor in Denver or Colorado, then you need to begin a formal job search in commercial/residential construction. Construction companies post jobs for a variety of job opportunities from entry level construction worker positions at construction sites to higher level project engineer, construction management and senior project manager positions.
The entry level positions will require a well-crafted resume and persistence in the process of applying to job posts and following up with the human resources department as well and those who interview you. The construction project management level positions follow a different path. If you are interested in an assistant superintendent job or something similar, there will be a number of people who will need to speak with you to make sure that there is a fit between the current project management team and you.
There is a shortage of qualified workers in construction nationwide, but this is particularly the case in Colorado – a state with a high population growth rate, lots of large building and road projects and plenty jobs that need to be filled. In these circumstances, jobs in construction exist and employers are interested in motivating skilled laborers to work for them and in bringing non-experienced people into the industry. There is a lot of opportunity and not only for trained workers. Young people will find that pursuing a career in construction is an alternative to the narrative that everyone must attend college. Colorado construction companies are currently pumping money and effort into organizing apprenticeships in Denver and surrounding areas for young people who can learn and earn money at the same time and, if they turn out to be reliable, they have all the chances for a great career upon completion of their apprenticeship period.
There are many career paths for people who want to work in the Colorado construction industry. It all starts with hard work and reliability on that first construction job. You may begin as an entry-level Denver, CO construction laboror in the summer through a paid internship. Perhaps, once you prove to the employer you can bring reliability and enthusiasm to the job and you see for yourself the industry suits you, you can obtain a full time position, complete an apprenticeship thru your employer and then sky is the limit. You may decide to engage in continual training in construction thru various classes while working is for you - or you may decide to complete a college degree in construction management to put yourself on the path to become a construction superintendent or senior project manager on a large commercial project.
The important thing is to set goals for your career. You should not just search jobs in Denver CO and hope that you end in the right place for your skills, goals and dreams. You need to be intentional about the job search you follow so that your career path in the Colorado construction industry is what you want and is at a place where you can succeed.
Construction is a fast-growing industry, a multidisciplinary field, which requires cooperation and interaction between everyone involved in it - workers, skilled trades people, engineers, designers, project managers etc. Build Colorado is a single stop source for workforce development programs and real opportunities in Colorado’s construction industry. BuildColorado.com details pathways and opportunities for our diverse and expanding population to begin a new career that yields livable wages and benefits, supports our community and economy, and provides the skilled trades workforce needed to build a strong infrastructure and an even brighter future for Colorado. Build Colorado programs can help you get your foot in the door and meet face to face with hiring construction companies in Colorado. From there you can decide on various career paths such as completing an apprenticeship to become a journeyman and then foreman, or you could even go on to get a bachelor degree in construction engineering technology or construction management. If you are a high school student interested in investigating a career in construction check out the Careers in Construction program and the High School Construction Connection program. High school graduates and all others interested in a career in construction, experienced or not, should check out the Construction Careers Now program. These programs are featured on the Build Colorado website.
The construction industry in Denver continues to be do very well and has been booming in recent years. The Denver job hiring market is looking good, and builders, contractors and recruiters are all busy hiring workers. You can expect a broad range of opportunities, whether you are a newbie or a skilled laborer. There are programs to help people get into the construction industry, such as the Construction Careers Now program run by Associated General Contractors of Colorado, which estimates a need for 45,000 new construction employees by 2027.
The construction industry offers lifelong opportunities and competitive benefit packages. Entry level employees can earn up to $18 per hour right away, which is higher than many other industries. Skilled laborers can earn up to $40 per hour or even more, while a senior-level property manager (a PM) makes a six figure salary annually.
If you have been trying to focus your Denver job search and are open to a job in the construction field, consult with the experts at Build Colorado. Many Denver construction jobs begin with a paid apprenticeship. These Colorado construction jobs give you an opportunity to earn while you learn.
The Denver CO construction industry offers great opportunities for growth. People who find construction jobs in Denver Colorado can grow from entry level construction positions into higher-level construction coordinator jobs and much more. Sometimes employees start in construction labor jobs and then decide they want further education and training in their field so that they can become part of the construction management team for their company. When you have the growth that Denver CO has seen in jobs in general, and construction jobs in particular, the opportunities for hard-working individuals follow.
There are various ways to get into construction in Colorado. There are many career paths and trades to choose from, so everyone who is interested can surely find a fit for their lifestyle and interests.
There are no special requirements to begin a career in this industry, whether you have experience or not, are still in school or are already a skilled worker. Anytime is good to get started and you can do it by contacting Build Colorado construction recruiting experts or trying to contacting local construction companies to see what opportunities they have for you.
If you are not trained and have no experience you may find a job as an entry-level construction laborer , and if you are a fit at the company many will pay for your apprenticeship, as you can combine in-class learning with on-the-job training AND start earning your money at the same time. Additionally, you can enroll for post-secondary training at a technical institute, college or university.
The path you take to train for your potential construction job in Denver or Colorado depends on the position you are interested in. For example, if you are most interested in construction management jobs in Denver CO or a construction superintendent position, then in addition to having experience, you will more than likely need to have formal education with a degree that lends itself to the construction coordinator piece of the industry.
On the other hand, if you are not inclined toward senior project manager work and prefer construction worker jobs such as a heavy equipment operator or general construction labor, then an entry-level job may be the path to consider. In addition, these jobs on construction sites can lend themselves to the apprenticeship path as well.
The construction industry has lost a part of its skilled workers during the recession of the late 2000s and the effects are still noticeable today. There is a shortage of skilled laborers; this is particularly a problem in Denver and throughout Colorado, which has a high growth rate and therefore construction projects are in high demand.
Examples of opportunities in the Skilled Trades and Construction Management in Colorado include:
Electrical contractors are among the most important and first-to-arrive contractors to enter new construction job sites to supply power for other construction operations. Lighting, HVAC and a myriad of other activities rely on electrical power to be in place.
In buildings, electrical connectivity is essential to many other activities including cooking, refrigeration, lighting, charging stations, integration with solar energy and the operation of elevators, escalators and personal computers.
The average annual wage for electricians reported in May 2020 was $56,300, or $27.07 per hour*. The number of electrician jobs in Colorado was reported as 17,930*.
Is becoming an electrician the career path for you?
*SOURCE: Occupational Employment Statistics Program, US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for Colorado, from May 2020.
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