Construction & Utilities

Construction & Utilities Degrees

A degree in construction & utilities will give you the hands-on experience and training to make you an expert in the construction & utility industry of your choice. Certificates, diplomas, and associate degree programs are available in the following areas:

• CAD
• Commercial Refrigeration & A/C
• Construction
• Electrical
• HVAC
• Plumbing
• Power Plant Management & Maintenance
• Surveying
• Welding

People looking to enter the construction and utilities industries can come through a variety of educational and training backgrounds. Students who enter the industry after high school typically start as laborers, helpers, or apprentices. Some jobs can be learned quickly; however, the necessary skills can take years to learn through a combination of classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Generally the more education workers have the more skilled they will become.

If you intend to seek a construction management position or start your own firm over time, a bachelor’s degree may be necessary. Some construction occupations such as electricians, plumbers, crane operators, and heating and air-conditioning mechanics, are required by the state to have licenses in order to work.

Construction & Utilities Job Opportunities

According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, the number of construction and utilities jobs is expected to grow 19 percent through the year 2018. This is due in part to population growth, deteriorating infrastructure, and aging buildings that will help increase construction activity for years to come. Many older workers are expected to leave their positions over the next decade creating demand to more skilled workers. New jobs will be created in residential construction, nonresidential construction, heavy and civil engineering construction, and a variety of specialty trades.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlooks Handbook, 2010 – 2011 Edition.