Blog


play

  • Pensacola State College is hosting its first-ever Construction Trade Career Fair on July 31
  • Across the region, companies are casting a wide net to draw in fresh workers
  • There are nearly 2,800 construction-related jobs in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and about 25 job postings for the local industry each month

Some workers in the construction industry are aging out, some are being promoted to better-paying roles and others are simply leaving for another industry.

Whatever the reason, skilled workers are in high demand, and opportunity for people interested in construction careers abounds across the Pensacola metropolitan area.

Local organizations and companies are working to create more pipelines for jobseekers to join the construction industry, starting with the first-ever Construction Trade Career Fair at Pensacola State College. The inaugural event will take place in the Student Services Building at PSC on July 31 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and it’ll be open to both students and the general public.

The future of Pensacola jobs: Even with automation and AI, the next decade of Pensacola-area job growth look strong

Representatives from companies like American Magic, ST Engineering and Comfort Systems USA are coming to event to build upon their existing workforce in the region. Fifteen companies plan to attend overall.

To prepare for the projected growth of the industry in the region, companies are casting a wide net to draw in fresh workers and mitigate gaps in their rosters. Additionally, local schools, both in K-12 and in higher education, are working to prepare the next generation of skilled workers.

“We have a lot of programs that will help get students in, help them find the resources to help pay for what they’re doing,” said Debbie Douma, dean of Grants & Federal Programs at PSC as well as the primary organizer of the job fair. “We don’t want anyone to ever think ‘I can’t go to school, I can’t get that training,’ because we’re going to do everything we possibly can to help them realize their goals and their dreams for success.”

The annual median salary for the construction occupation in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties is calculated to be about $41,215, though workers can earn more with experience or a specialization.

There are nearly 2,800 construction-related jobs in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, or the Pensacola Metropolitan Area, and about 25 job postings for the local industry each month, according to an occupation report shared with the News Journal by the UWF Haas Center.

Most jobs in the field fall under the residential construction sector, at 18.3%, with specialty trade contractors and foundation, structure and building exterior contractors following at 16.9% and 11% respectively.

On average, there were 16 job postings for construction managers each month and 21 hires for that position in the region from July 2024 to June 2025. By comparison, there were nine job postings for construction laborers each month and 148 hires for the position.

While the online competition for jobs in any industry can be fierce, Emily Leal-Fernandez, construction recruiter for the local Comfort Systems USA branch, said old-fashioned methods like visiting a company’s office to apply can still work.

“I’m a big fan of just stopping by our office, just because we may not have a position listed on our website does not mean (applicants) won’t be considered for future opportunities,” she said.

Comfort Systems USA Southeast previously worked on the Santa Rosa County Courthouse, Navy Federal Credit Union’s main campus, the University of West Florida Science Building and the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition in downtown Pensacola.

The company was approved by Santa Rosa County to build its next local location in Pace, which will be a fabrication shop and an office building. While Comfort Systems USA hasn’t broken ground on the facility yet, it’s already preparing for future workforce needs.

“We value a coachable attitude at Comfort Systems USA Southeast, whether you have experience in HVAC, pipefitting, plumbing, sheet metal … we do have in-house apprenticeship programs available,” continued Leal-Fernandez. “And, what we do directly impacts the communities we serve. Schools, hospitals, government facilities, local businesses, there’s a lot of pride in that and that’s a big reason why this industry continues to thrive.”

What skills do I need for the construction industry?

New data from the Haas Center states that these are the latest sought-after skills in applicants for the construction industry.

  1. Construction
  2. Project management
  3. Subcontracting
  4. Construction management
  5. Trenching
  6. Commercial construction
  7. Project Schedules
  8. Primavera (software)
  9. Power tool operation
  10. Hand tools
  11. Change orders
  12. Building information modeling
  13. Safety standards
  14. Autodesk Revit
  15. Heavy equipment

Which skills set me apart in the construction industry?

A new report by data application Lightcast identifies a variety of skills that construction industry employers currently or will be seeking out in applicants. The skills are split into three different distinctions: distinguishing, defining and necessary skills.

This data is subject to change as workforce trends continue to shift throughout the rest of the year.

Necessary skills in the construction industry

Necessary skills are specialized skills required for a respective job that’ll be relevant across similar jobs. Additionally, these skills will be building blocks for employees to perform more complex, defining skills in their work.

None of the skills on this list are projected to boost your salary-earning potential, but nearly all of them are expected to have a growing importance in the region.

The following list contains the most in-demand, necessary skills that local construction companies are looking for in applicants, according to data from the Haas Center.

  1. Safety standards: 20 related job openings – projected growth: 5.9%
  2. Heavy equipment: 18 related job openings – projected growth: 11.3%
  3. Excavation: 15 related job openings – projected growth: 12.3%
  4. Quality management: 14 related job openings – projected growth: 16.5%
  5. Procurement: 13 related job openings – projected growth: 13.8%
  6. Invoicing: 12 related job openings – projected growth: 16.2%
  7. Machinery: 8 related job openings – projected growth: 8%
  8. Carpentry: 7 related job openings – projected growth: 16.1%
  9. Civil engineering: 5 related job openings – projected growth: 26.2%

Defining skills in the construction industry

Defining skills represent the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities that an employee will see in roles across an industry.

Prospective employees looking to enter the construction industry will need these skills to both qualify for a job and successfully perform their job duties.

Only two of the following skills, construction and construction management, are projected to boost your salary-earning potential. Each skill on this list is projected, at minimum, to grow at a stable rate.

The following list contains the crucial in-demand skills that local construction companies are looking for in applicants, according to new data from the Haas Center.

  1. Construction: 166 related job openings – projected growth: 10.5%
  2. Valid driver’s license: 94 related job openings – projected growth: 7.5%
  3. Project management: 86 related job openings – projected growth: 19.8%
  4. Subcontracting: 82 related job openings – projected growth: 9.4%
  5. Commercial construction: 56 related job openings – projected growth: 22.8%
  6. Construction management: 52 related job openings – projected growth: 18.4%
  7. Trenching: 34 related job openings – projected growth: 13.4%
  8. Hand tools: 30 related job openings – projected growth: 6.2%
  9. Power tool operation: 30 related job openings – projected growth: 7.4%
  10. Project schedules: 25 related job openings – projected growth: 17%

Distinguishing skills in the construction industry

The distinguishing skills within a given occupation are advanced skills that’re only called upon occasionally.

An employee with these skills is likely more specialized and able to differentiate themselves from others in the same role. Two skills, project closure and site inspection, are projected to boost your salary-earning potential.

Lightcast projects that every skill but two will have at least stable growth. Demolition and residential construction are expected to have lagging growth that falls behind the market.  

The following list contains the most in-demand, specialized skills that local construction companies are looking for in applicants, according to new data from the Haas Center.

  1. 30-hour OSHA General Industry card: 29 related job openings – projected growth: 19.3%
  2. Primavera (software): 24 related job openings – projected growth: 19.6%
  3. Punch Work: 17 related job openings – projected growth: 8.6%
  4. Project documentation: 7 related job openings – projected growth: 15.4%
  5. Construction management software: 7 job openings – projected growth: 9.3%
  6. Demolition: 7 related job openings – projected growth: 0.7%
  7. Project closure: 7 related job openings – projected growth: 12.5%
  8. Site inspection: 5 related job openings – projected growth: 24.2%
  9. Residential construction: 4 related job openings – projected growth: 3.1%
  10. Shop drawing: 4 related job openings – projected growth: 12.7%



Source link