Construction
For decades, the Construction sector has been a linchpin of the regional economy, an integral part of its long period of growth, and a prominent source of jobs.
These are high-paying jobs, averaging more than $25 per hour. Current and future building trends, both public and private, are rapidly increasing the demand for skilled tradespeople in the region. One-fifth of the region’s construction workforce is at, or nearing, retirement age.
Construction in the Portland-Vancouver Metro
6.9%
Total employment
$27.50
2020 median hourly wage
$85,547
2021 average annual wage
Contractors are currently looking across the country to fill positions. The three workforce boards of the Collaborative have asked the question—how can we work together to address training and workforce needs locally and capture this opportunity to build a supply of locally trained workers? A strong workforce is integral to this success.
Goals
CWWC convenes industry leaders to determine their workforce needs and develop a plan to support the industry. These priorities have been vetted and approved by industry leaders in the region, who will also evaluate and monitor progress toward completion:
- Connect youth to jobs, training, and apprenticeship opportunities in construction
- Improve retention of existing apprentices and workers
- Connect “career changers” to jobs, training and career opportunities in construction
Construction Employment by Component
Greater Portland Region, 2021
No Data Found
Construction Employment by County
Greater Portland Region, 2021
No Data Found
Multnomah, Clark, and Washington counties account for nearly three out of every four Construction workers in the Portland-Vancouver metro area.
Other areas of focus
Other areas of focus include better marketing of career opportunities, recruiting non-traditional construction workers, creating industry support tools such as mentoring to retain their workforce, and helping industry strengthen best practices for recruiting and screening the best candidates.
Creating a workforce plan to support the construction industry allows us to identify common industry workforce challenges, coalesce around shared goals, and align the efforts of the public workforce system to make a greater overall impact for the sector.
2022
Construction Labor Market Report
About the Report
By examining labor market intelligence (such as the data contained in this report) and vetting the information with business partners, we are able to better understand industry trends, identify current and emergent workforce needs, and develop customized solutions for each sector.
