The construction sector is among the Louisville region’s 10 largest industries, and critical to building and maintaining homes, roads, and other structures. On average, the local construction industry employed more than 27,000 workers in 2020 across more than 3,000 firms, accounting for 5% of the region’s private sector employment.
The economic impact of the pandemic touched all industries, and construction was no exception. The average employment level in the construction industry fell 5% between 2019 and 2020, and continues to lag in the first half of 2021. Construction has predictable peaks and valleys in employment levels, as demand surges in summer months and wanes in the winter months. But overall employment levels are down in the construction industry as compared to the pre-COVID economy.
It is important to keep in mind that even though the construction sector was impacted by the economic fallout of the pandemic, other industries experienced much steeper employment losses and have a much bigger hole to dig out of.
In the first six months of 2021, there were nearly 2,000 online job postings for jobs in the construction industry. The greatest demand was for positions in the construction trades.
Jobs in the construction trades are attractive positions. They generally do not require a college degree, can be obtained with 5 years or less of experience, and provide a living wage.
The local construction industry does not, however, reflect the diversity of the local workforce. Women and Black workers are severely underrepresented in the construction sector.
As the local construction industry continues to build itself back from the pandemic recession, Congress is poised to pass a major infrastructure bill that would open the door to many more construction jobs. Now is a great time to think about entering the construction field.
Kentuckiana Builds is a free training program available to those interested in entering the construction sector. The six-week program lays the foundation for a position as an entry-level laborer and to pursue additional training for the more lucrative trades positions. Operated by the Louisville Urban League, Kentuckiana Builds focuses on recruiting women and Black candidates into the training program, seeking to address the industry’s diversity problem. If you are a job seeker interested in entering the construction industry, or an employer interested in tapping into a pipeline of skilled workers, please reach out!
