Indeed's 2018 list of the 25 best jobs in the U.S. includes nine construction positions—the most of any industry—with commercial project manager taking the top spot, according to www.constructiondive.com.
The other construction jobs on Indeed's list are preconstruction manager (No. 5), construction superintendent (No. 6), chief estimator (No. 9), construction estimator (No. 12), plumbing engineer (No. 14), project superintendent (No. 15), construction manager (No. 19) and project architect (No. 20). The tech industry had the next highest number of positions on the list.
Indeed selected its list of best jobs based on a base salary of at least $75,000 a year and the job opportunities available for each position. According to Jed Kolko, Indeed's chief economist, the construction and mining sectors experienced the fastest year-over-year job growth last year, and the increase in construction spending and contractors' plans to increase their payrolls were contributing factors for the industry's presence on the list. Still, Kolko says overall Indeed searches for construction jobs are declining, meaning employers will need to increase recruitment efforts.
Although the Indeed list shows how lucrative construction jobs can be, the industry continues to struggle to attract younger people. A National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) survey last year found 75 percent of adults ages 18 to 25 had found a career path, but only 3 percent of that group had chosen construction. Eighty percent responding to the NAHB survey were attracted to the potential for high pay. But of the 25 percent who were undecided about a career, 63 percent said they wouldn't pursue a job in the construction industry regardless of pay.
As the labor shortage continues, local government agencies and other groups are working to respond to the need for more construction workers by establishing training initiatives.
