After a debilitating year, our economy is thankfully beginning to recover. The strengthening economy is resulting in an uptick in available jobs in the construction sector. During the peak of the COVID crisis, the industry lost approximately 1 million jobs as a result of construction moratoriums and reduced demand, which accounted for close to 13 percent of the national workforce. As jobsites are continuing to reopen, a growing number of jobs are available across the five boroughs and employers continue to struggle to find qualified applicants.

It is important that you’re always honing your existing skills and building new ones to stay competitive in this lucrative market. Keep the following points in mind:

Evaluate Your Current Set of Skills

Now is the time to do some professional housekeeping. Check the skills, certificates, and licenses that you have earned and see what areas may need improvement. By evaluating your current skillsets, you’ll be better able to understand what areas you may need to hone and where you may need to build to remain competitive.

Research the Current Demand in the Sector

Whether you’re looking for a new job or just hoping to expand your professional knowledge, it’s always a good idea to do some research on what skills or qualities employers are currently looking for. This will give you a better sense of what skills are in demand and what courses you should take to boost your resume. Stay ahead of the curve and be sure you’re as prepared as possible.

Consider Taking Courses at Your Local Community College

Once you have taken inventory of your skills and compared to the current demand in the industry, consider how enrolling in a construction skills training course can boost your career. For example, for years, Building Skills has referred participants to LaGuardia Community College where they can enroll in NCCER construction skills training classes for electrical and plumbing. Those who have graduated from these programs have gone on to secure good-paying positions citywide.