Historic federal infrastructure spending and renewable-energy projects are fueling unprecedented demand for skilled trades. Construction & Extraction roles deliver roads, hospitals, data centers, and wind farms, vital assets for economic growth.
Complete Occupational List
- Boat Builders and Shipwrights Career Guide
- Boilermakers Career Guide
- Brattice Builders Career Guide
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons Career Guide
- Carpenter Assemblers and Repairers Career Guide
- Carpenter Helpers Career Guide
- Ceiling Tile Installers Career Guide
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers Career Guide
- Construction and Building Inspectors Career Guide
- Construction Carpenters Career Guide
- Construction Drillers Career Guide
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators Career Guide
- Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas Career Guide
- Drywall Installers Career Guide
- Electricians Career Guide
- Elevator Installers and Repairers Career Guide
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts and Blasters Career Guide
- Fence Erectors Career Guide
- First-Line Construction Supervisors Career Guide
- First-Line Supervisors – Extractive Workers Career Guide
- Floor Layers (Except Carpet, Wood and Hard Tiles) Career Guide
- Glaziers Career Guide
- Grader, Bulldozer and Scraper Operators Career Guide
- Helpers - Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons and Tile-and-Marble Setters Career Guide
- Helpers - Extraction Workers Career Guide
- Helpers - Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers and Stucco Masons Career Guide
- Helpers - Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters Career Guide
- Highway Maintenance Workers Career Guide
- Insulation Workers, Floor – Ceiling – Wall Career Guide
- Irradiated-Fuel Handlers Career Guide
- Mechanical Insulation Workers Career Guide
- Operating Engineers (Heavy Equipment Operators) Career Guide
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance Career Guide
- Paperhangers Career Guide
- Paving, Surfacing and Tamping Equipment Operators Career Guide
- Pile-Driver Operators Career Guide
- Pipe Fitters Career Guide
- Pipelayers Career Guide
- Pipelaying Fitters Career Guide
- Plasterers and Stucco Masons Career Guide
- Plumbers Career Guide
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators Career Guide
- Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers Career Guide
- Roof Bolters, Mining Career Guide
- Roofers Career Guide
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Career Guide
- Rough Carpenters Career Guide
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas Career Guide
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Career Guide
- Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas (“Well-Servicers”) Career Guide
- Sheet Metal Workers Career Guide
- Ship Carpenters and Joiners Career Guide
- Solar Energy Installation Managers Career Guide
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers Career Guide
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians Career Guide
- Stonemasons Career Guide
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers Career Guide
- Tapers Career Guide
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers Career Guide
- Tile and Marble Setters Career Guide
- Weatherization Installers and Technicians Career Guide
- Well and Core Drill Operators Career Guide
Skill Pillars
- Blueprint Literacy: Reading plans, specs, BIM models.
- Tool Mastery & Safety: Power tools, PPE, OSHA compliance.
- Math & Measurement: Fractions, angles, load calculations.
- Problem-Solving on Site: Adapting to field conditions.
- Physical Stamina & Teamwork: Outdoor, high-risk environments require trust.
Entry Pathways
- Apprenticeships (3-5 years) combine paid work and classroom study.
- Trade Certificates (community colleges) for HVAC, solar, welding.
- Union Membership often provides healthcare, pensions, and wage scales.
Growth Hotspots
- Renewables: Wind-Turbine Techs projected +45 % growth.
- Electricians & Plumbers: Steady demand; aging workforce boosts openings.
- Infrastructure Rebuild: Bridge & road projects need ironworkers, heavy-equipment operators.
MAPP: Confirming Your Trade Readiness
Trades thrive on hands-on problem-solving,spatial reasoning, and tangible results. The Free MAPP Assessment scores those motivations, helping you decide if a career with hard hats and high pay, minus the four-year tuition, is right for you.
