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Fastest Growing Jobs Include the Building Trades

You may have read the recent CNN story about the leading high-wage, high-growth occupations in America as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. All the jobs on the list are both growing faster than average for total employment (13.0 percent) and have annual earnings above the national median of $28,770.

In addition to a large number of medical and teaching jobs, several occupations in the building trades made the list: plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters; carpenters; and heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers.

According to John Topp, Building Advantage Executive Director, this report reflects construction trends in Wisconsin and nationwide. “The economy in Wisconsin is strong, and that drives a high need for construction services,” says Topp. “We are busy and that's a good thing.”

Topp notes that reports such as this illustrate the need to focus on training tomorrow's workforce to meet the growing demand. “If the demand is on the rise for trades people,” says Topp, “we need to be training our future work force today.”

Fortunately, Southeastern Wisconsin's building and construction trades may be ahead of the curve in planning and preparing for tomorrow's work force needs. “We have successful programs in place – in addition to our established apprenticeship training program – to reach out to non-traditional groups to help fill the ranks that will be depleted when the baby boomers retire,” says Topp. “A labor shortage is predicted in the next decade, so we've been working now to meet that need.”

Carpenters were number nine on the list. Joe Weisling, Training Director of the Southeast Wisconsin Carpentry Training Center in Pewaukee, says that wages for union carpenters are actually “significantly higher” than the number quoted in the story. In addition, training to become a union carpenter is free and is part of the collectively bargained agreement.

“Training by the unions is entirely self-funded,” says Weisling. “Anyone who wants to become a carpenter can apply to become an apprentice. Our program is unmatched. We offer a four-year program of classroom and on-the-job training at no cost to the apprentice – in fact they earn while they are learning. Wages for a skilled carpenter are more than $40 per hour for wages, including fringe benefits, plus the union offers the benefit of continuing education to keep skills fresh.

“Here in the Milwaukee area,” says Weisling, “we know that carpentry is a wonderful, high-paying, lifelong career. We welcome anyone who is interested and willing to work hard.”

In addition to carpentry, the unions comprise many trades, including plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (number 23 on the list) and heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (number 40 on the list).

To read the full article on CNN.com, visit http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/Careers/01/31/cb.top.jobs/index.html.

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