Employment Potential

Employment of construction laborers & carpenters is projected to grow 24 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. Construction Laborers work in all fields of construction, and demand for laborers will mirror the level of overall construction activity. Repairing and replacing the nation’s infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and water lines, should result in steady demand for laborers. Population growth should result in new-home construction—the largest segment employing carpenters.

Construction laborers can expect to find employment in a variety of areas. Some areas include:

• Building homes and businesses
• Tearing down buildings
• Removing hazardous materials
• Building highways and roads
• Digging tunnels and mine shafts
• Residential building construction
• Nonresidential building construction
• Building finishing contractors
• Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors

Pay Potential

In the state of Kansas:
 
Carpenters
Average wage = $39,720
Entry level = $27,390
Experienced = $45,890

Construction Laborers
Average wage = $32,580
Entry level = $23,260
Experienced = $37,240

For additional information, visit Kansas Labor Information Center for local wage information or U.S. Department of labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupation Handbook for national wage information.