Construction & Green Building

Overview

Construction industry jobs are generally an excellent source of family-wage jobs for our region. Over 80 percent of all jobs in the industry and 67 percent of entry-level jobs pay a living wage. Union apprenticeship programs, the primary path into the industry, provide wages and benefits to those learning the trade.

The WDC is leading our region in identifying "green jobs" and skills that will be required both for the next generation of workers and the workers who are in the field today. We convened a sector panel of representatives from all parts of the industry to meet the new workforce demands, which has become the Green Workforce Council.

• "Green jobs" grants to bring job training.
• Just updated for 2010! Map a career in construction with this diagram showing occupations, wages and training required. (see all pathways in Map Your Career)
• Sustainability in the Building and Construction Trades, a curriculum to gives construction apprentices foundational knowledge of green-building concepts and practices, is available statewide on DVD in 2010. The curriculum is an initiative of the WDC’s Green Building Skill Panel.
• 2009 King County Green Building Jobs Employer and Education Survey: The WDC commissioned this study using state data and a survey of employers and educators to pinpoint "green jobs" in construction and training opportunities for them.

• NEW! Watch the video developed by the green skills panel! (11 minutes)
  
• For more information on construction sector efforts and careers, see our list of organizations and resources.