Experts Weigh In On Current Job Market Trends
September 29, 2021
Given the change of course that has happened in the world, we wanted to provide expert opinions on what aspiring graduates can do to start off their careers in an uncertain economic climate. We wanted to know what skills will be more important, where the economy is doing relatively well, and if there will be any lasting effects on the job market.
Companies are looking for candidates that can handle the new responsibilities of the job market. Recent graduates actually have an advantage because they are comfortable using newer technologies and have been communicating virtually their whole lives. They can take what they've learned and apply it immediately.
We spoke to professors and experts from several universities and companies to get their opinions on where the job market for recent graduates is heading, as well as how young graduates entering the industry can be adequately prepared. Here are their thoughts.
Our Panel of Experts
Kennesaw State University
Arizona State University
University of Oklahoma
American Council for Construction Education
National Tile Contractors Association
Irish Horsey Ph.D.
Interim Chair of the Department of Construction Management and Assistant ProfessorKennesaw State University
Department of Construction Management
What skills stand out on Construction Manager resumes?
Irish Horsey Ph.D.: Construction Managers are problem solvers. Employers seek analytical, technical, and effective communication skills from potential employees for construction management positions. Whether building a skyscraper or single-family home, there are always groups of people performing numerous construction activities and tasks simultaneously on a construction site. Therefore, resumes that show time, cost, and, most importantly, safety management skills are most desired by employers.
What soft skills should all Construction Managers possess?
Irish Horsey Ph.D.: Leadership and communication are among the most essential skills of a construction manager. Construction managers are responsible for ensuring that projects are built safely on schedule, within budget, and to the quality outlined in the drawings and specifications. To fulfill these responsibilities, construction managers must lead multiple teams, including primary, secondary, and third party players, on a construction project through effective oral and written communications.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Construction Managers?
Irish Horsey Ph.D.: Construction Managers are project managers with specialized technical skills. Construction managers' most important technical skills are print reading, estimating, scheduling, project and technology management.
What skills will help Construction Managers earn the most?
Irish Horsey Ph.D.: The key to the highest earning potential in construction is experience. However, a potential employee that can show success in managing people, budgets, and schedules while using the latest tools in construction technology such as drones, building information modeling (BIM), smart devices, computer-automated design (CAD), and cloud-based project controls software is likely to be more attractive to employers. Construction projects are complex and risky. Someone with the technical skills to foresee problems and minimize risks is invaluable to an employer.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Construction Managers?
Kristen Parrish Ph.D.: The construction market, locally, is doing quite well, particularly in the industrial sector (e.g., warehouses). So, I think that in terms of ability to be employed, no, there is relatively little impact in the construction industry. However, I think that the enduring impacts are the ways that we do business, even in construction, have changed. For instance, inspections can happen remotely using video conferencing software, and in some cases, augmented reality. People are also working from home more -- this is the case for project managers as well as office staff for projects (i.e., construction administrators). Some of these changes will likely persist after COVID is under control; others may change back.
What's a good job out of college for Construction Managers?
Kristen Parrish Ph.D.: I think a good job out of college, regardless of industry, is one that leverages your skills and compensates you for those skills. I think that in construction, the industry I'm most familiar with, there is no shortage of good jobs. You can work onsite, as an assistant superintendent or a project engineer, after college. If you're more interested in the office side of the construction industry, then a good job may be in the estimating department, or in the business development and marketing departments. I think new graduates will see that, unlike in 2008-2009, the requisite experience for joining a new company is pretty minimal. During the Great Recession, most companies prioritized hiring people with existing relationships in the construction industry, so students faced a tough market. However, today, if a graduate is entering the construction industry in a market that is healthy (like Phoenix), then being "green" is not an impediment -- plenty of companies are hiring young talent.
What technical skills for a Construction Manager stand out to employers?
Kristen Parrish Ph.D.: This is pretty dependent on the job that you're going for, but I think that one technical skill that employers in construction look for is the ability to communicate technical information clearly and concisely. This will be critical onsite and in the office -- you need to demonstrate an understanding of how a project comes together, and this requires the ability to communicate clearly. Beyond the communication, a technical understanding of material behavior (i.e., concrete curing, crane picks, etc.).
What type of skills will young Construction Managers need?
Ben F. Bigelow Ph.D.: Construction companies want someone who can "speak the language" when they arrive, so instead of teaching about the industry; they are teaching about their company and its processes, etc. While there are technical skills graduates should have, construction companies are far more concerned with graduate's soft skills; can they communicate clearly and effectively in writing and speaking?
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Construction Managers to find work opportunities?
Ben F. Bigelow Ph.D.: There are opportunities all over the U.S. in construction; it really just depends on which industry segment a graduate goes to work in. As a general rule, the strongest economies have the greatest demand. I have heard comparisons of DFW being this century, what Detroit was in the last century, and the opportunities in that market suggest that's accurate.
How do you envision technology impacting Construction Managers in the next 5 years?
Ben F. Bigelow Ph.D.: BIM will continue to gain market share and become a standard part of a project; I also think we'll see increased use of scanning for progress updates. I'm not a believer in robots yet, they may impact the industry in 10 or 20 years, but they aren't there yet.
What general advice would you give to a Construction Manager?
Steve Nellis: We are still seeing strong demand for ACCE accredited Construction Management graduates this Fall. With placement levels over 90%, there is a competitive recruiting environment at our programs. In fact, we have seniors with offers in hand for May 2021 start dates.
What type of skills will young Construction Managers need?
Steve Nellis: The primary skills that new graduates from ACCE programs will have are different for each level of degree that they complete. For an Associate Degree, here are the skills (we call them Student Learning Outcomes, or SLO) that they will possess:
1. Apply effective communication, both orally and in writing.
1. Apply quantity takeoff skills for bidding or budgeting purposes on a construction project.
2. Apply the aptitude to schedule a basic construction project.
3. Apply current technology related to the construction industry.
4. Apply the interpretation of construction documents (contracts, specifications, and drawings) used in managing a construction project.
5. Apply basic principles of construction accounting.
6. Apply basic surveying techniques used in building layout.
7. Understand basic principles of ethics in the construction industry.
8. Understand the fundamentals of contracts, codes, and regulations that govern a construction project.
9. Understand basic construction methods and materials.
10. Understand basic safety hazards on a construction site and standard prevention measures.
11. Understand the basic principles of structural design.
12. Understand the basic principles of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Construction Managers to find work opportunities?
Steve Nellis: Regarding locations for work opportunities, we have found that there are opportunities throughout the country, and international opportunities, for our graduates. Because construction work is a critical and necessary profession, even in the times of the pandemic, our graduates can research where the construction activity is and then align their career choices to the locations they desire. If we are to narrow down the scope of locations, pretty much any of the large metropolitan areas in the SunBelt States are excellent areas for our graduates to start their construction careers.
What general advice would you give to a Construction Manager?
Becky Serbin: Skill requirements are stated on our recruitment flyer, attached, but will ultimately be decided on by the hiring contractor. Beyond our flyer, many also require a valid drivers license.
What type of skills will young Construction Managers need?
Becky Serbin: Tile contractors are hiring across the U.S. and using several different online job posting sites. We even have an online form that those interested in the trade can fill out. When we receive them, they are forwarded to members in their area. If the person is located in an area where there is a union presence, they can even contact that office for job opportunities.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Construction Managers to find work opportunities?
Becky Serbin: Tile contractors are hiring across the U.S. and using several different online job posting sites. We even have an online form that those interested in the trade can fill out. When we receive them, they are forwarded to members in their area. If the person is located in an area where there is a union presence, they can even contact that office for job opportunities.
