Consider a Career in Construction
People who work in construction, also known as the trades, play a role in the building of houses, apartments and other types of buildings, as well as roads, bridges and other structures. People working in construction can specialize in particular roles like electricians, plumbers, cement masons and many other types of jobs. With 143,000 people working in the industry in Minnesota, construction makes up nearly 5% of total employment in the state, or one in every 20 jobs. With average annual wages of just over $83,600 in 2023, construction wages are about $12,000 above the average for all industries. Most construction jobs can be started with a high school diploma or GED and on-the-job training, with many opportunities for people interested in working in this field to earn while they learn in registered apprenticeships. People with construction and other trades skills are in high demand now and are expected to remain in high demand into the future; there are expected to be more than 10,000 new jobs added in Construction through 2032.
Featured Careers in Construction
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In Demand Careers
The following occupations are in top demand in construction in Minnesota in 2024. Select an occupation to learn more including watch a short video, get more information on wages, daily work activities, education requirements, find jobs, and more.
- Carpenters
- Construction laborers
- Electricians
- First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Highway Maintenance Workers
- Construction managers
- Cost Estimators
- Cement masons and concrete finishers
Construction Industry Trends
- In 2023, there were more than 143,000 jobs in the construction industry in Minnesota. That’s nearly 5% of total employment in the state, or 1 in every 20 jobs.
- The construction industry was one of the fastest and largest growing industries in Minnesota in the past decade, gaining nearly 36,000 jobs from 2013 to 2023, a 33.3% growth rate, including a jump of nearly 9,000 jobs since 2019.
- Construction firms throughout Minnesota reported more than 4,500 vacancies in 2023, as employers continued to work hard to find workers to fill open jobs.
- According to DEED’s long-term projections, the construction industry is expected to add over 10,000 new jobs over the next decade, a 7.6% rate of growth.
- Looking specifically at Construction & Extraction occupations, the state is projected to add more than 9,100 new jobs as well as 48,000 openings as existing workers transition out of the labor force.
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