Ohio Officials Highlight Career Opportunities in Construction

COLUMBUS, Ohio – It’s National Construction Appreciation Week, and Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Matt Damschroder, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, are reminding Ohioans considering new careers that construction jobs are in demand in Ohio.

More than 245,500 Ohioans work in the construction industry, which equates to about 1 in 23 workers, and many learned their skills through apprenticeship programs. Apprentices earn while they learn, avoid student loan debt and, when they complete their programs, earn an average of $72,000 per year.

“As Ohio’s economy continues to grow, more and more companies are moving into our state or expanding their operations here, so construction workers are in demand to build out these sites,” DeWine said. “There are incredible opportunities right now in this field, and we appreciate all of the hardworking Ohioans in construction jobs today who are literally building our state’s future from the ground up.”

Husted stressed the demand for construction workers.

“As I have traveled the state, I hear from businesses constantly that they need construction workers,” he said. “I encourage everyone looking for a new or better opportunity to see for themselves what the industry can offer them.”

Starting this year, all Ohio school counselors for grades seven to 12 are required to complete a four-hour training to learn about building and construction trades career pathways, including apprenticeships. The goal is to increase the knowledge of Ohio’s school counselors so they can better share career-focused information with their students. The classes will be offered on-site at joint labor-management apprenticeship training centers across the state.

“At least 20 occupations in the construction industry are in demand in Ohio, including laborers, electricians, carpenters, welders, operating engineers and more,” Damschroder said. “These jobs pay well, have promising futures and offer many opportunities for advancement. They’re also vital to our communities, which rely on construction workers for everything from new schools and hospitals to highway maintenance to corporate expansions.”

To view more than 3,600 open construction positions, visit OhioMeansJobs.com.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.