Not all infrastructure construction projects are the same. Here is a look at how there are many kinds of infrastructure projects and as the federal money becomes available for these projects, what you can expect to see in demand and what kind of jobs will become available.

• Bridges
• Roads
• Airports
• Mass Transit
• Water Supply Projects
• Power Plants and Power Generation
• Waste Management Facilities
• Hazardous Waste Facilities and Removal
• Telecommunications

Construction companies will need knowledgeable, trained workers who can operate heavy equipment, cranes, and hand tools. There will be a need for carpenters, steelworkers, roofers, electricians, painters, and plumbers.

We offer an extensive variety of training programs for those interested in a career in the construction industry. We offer CDL training, heavy equipment operator training, training for being a signalperson or rigger, crane operator training, and more. To learn more about the different educational programs we offer for construction workers, call us today. Financial assistance is available.

According to experts, infrastructure construction and engineering are booming. The Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA) is providing $1 trillion-plus in revenue opportunities for engineering and contractors to take on infrastructure projects.

Experts anticipate infrastructure construction to surpass residential construction as the mainstream of revenue for construction companies with large public investments being made readily available. In the past, there has been an underfunding of infrastructure projects, so there is much catching up to do and this provides states, counties, and towns with the opportunity to develop their infrastructure in a way to benefit their communities and businesses.

The American Society of Civil Engineers has released statistics showing that there is a $2.59 trillion gap in investing in infrastructure during the last decade. That means the current state of infrastructure is lacking and the current funding gives government bodies the opportunity to correct problems and improve infrastructure systems.

Where to get training?

With the increase in infrastructure construction and the IIJA funds, there will be an increased need for qualified construction workers. That means that well-trained construction workers are definitely in demand. Workers who can operate different kinds of heavy equipment as well as those who can handle hand tools are a necessity.

If you have not undergone the proper training, you should consider enrolling in a school that offers extensive training in the construction trade. You need to be trained in all aspects of the trade, including safe operation and OSHA guidelines. Contact us for details about our different construction training programs.

Senate passed President Biden’s historic $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan and the bill has been sent to the House for discussion and a vote. These funds focus on various infrastructure efforts and include $550 billion in new spending with the remaining funds coming from unspent coronavirus relief funds that have already been approved. 

The infrastructure bill offers funds for numerous projects, including $303.5 billion spread across five years for federal highway projects; $40 billion in dedicated resources for bridge rehabilitation, replacement, and repairs; $118 billion to take the Highway Trust Fund out of the general fund of the Treasury; $55 billion for water projects; and funds for passenger and freight rail, rebuilding the electric grid, expansion of broadband internet access, modernization and expansion of transit systems, and building a national network of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

Will This Help The Construction Industry?

Since the infrastructure bill funds various infrastructure projects, it could increase construction spending by at least two percent while also driving the volumes and prices for aggregates and cement to higher levels. There has been continued demand for single-housing families, especially since housing inventory is already low. With steady infrastructure spending and continuing lower interest rates, there is continued strength in the construction industry for residential projects.

With a greater demand for residential construction than additional funds for infrastructure, then there will be greater demand for construction workers to take on the projects. There will be an increasing need for skilled and trained heavy equipment operators and workers to handle all the different construction roles. With the additional funding for construction, then the demand for construction workers will increase.

President Donald Trump and Congressional Democratic leaders agreed to aim for an infrastructure package worth $2 trillion recently, but many don’t think Congressional Republicans will agree because there are questions as to where the funding for the package would come from. However, the package is still in the works.

This infrastructure project would be designed to upgrade and improve the country’s aging infrastructure, which includes bridges, roads, internet, telephone, electric, sewage, and water systems. These all play a vital role in the development and prosperity of the communities.

The agreement was made because the infrastructure investment will create jobs and make the country more economically competitive with other countries. This means that there will be more opportunities and a greater demand for those who are trained and who can work in different construction roles.

The Need For More Construction Workers

There will be a greater need for heavy equipment operators, such as those who drive big trucks, dozers, graders, and even operate cranes. In addition, there will be a need for professional truck drivers who can transport the heavy equipment where it needs to go.

ATS offers training that can help with the different roles that will need to be filled with infrastructure projects. These jobs include:

• Heavy equipment operators
• Rigging and signalperson
• Directional drilling
• Mobile crane operators
• Tower crane operators
• CDL training
• Utility Locating
• Other specialized training

ATS accepts financial assistance, including veterans’ benefits. If you would like to learn more about ATS and how we can help you prepare for a career-building infrastructure, call (800) 383-7364 today.

There has been a lot of talk about the need for investment in infrastructures, and while the biggest projects are still at the early stages, Wisconsin is seeing a lot of construction activity focused on reinvigorating transport connections and providing the safe road solutions that we all need.

There is a drive for resurfacing that covers all areas of the state this summer, and this significant effort is accompanied by further works to backfill existing bridge structures and other substructures of the roadway.

A concerted effort covering various counties in Wisconsin, including Brown, Door, Fond Du Lac, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Marinette, Outagamie, Winnebago, and Shawano. Organized by the Department of Transportation, this represents a huge summer effort to restore Wisconsin highways to an acceptable condition and reinvigorate travel within the state.

While resurfacing is a common theme, projects around the state also take in other remedial works as well, including storm sewer reconstruction and renewal, railroad crossing construction, and other roadworks that can be carried out during the disruption. For heavy machinery operators, particularly graders and other road construction equipment, this is a fantastic opportunity, with skills in demand for a large number of simultaneous projects.

With various projects launching from May and continuing on to September and beyond, while this road initiative is widespread, collectively it is a huge undertaking for the state. However, that central organization does have its advantages, as Wisconsin is making use of social media to keep road users informed of any disruptions the ongoing works are causing. With a central Twitter account, they remind road users of lane restrictions and road closures each day, adding to the smooth running of these projects both for the teams working on-site and for Wisconsin road users looking to avoid any roadwork problems.

While we tend to think of infrastructure work as huge construction endeavors such as the California high-speed rail network, the reality is that these state-wide initiatives, which involve hundreds of works on dozens of sites, are where the most dramatic effect will be found for most people’s daily lives. A better, safer road surface to travel on every day as you go to work, school or the grocery run, this is where updated infrastructure leaves its mark on our lives most.

It is also where heavy machinery operators and other skilled construction workers will find long-term employment and create long-lasting, successful careers. By rebuilding infrastructure and providing safer, easier transport for Americans, this construction initiative is helping to deliver the platform that modern America needs for its workforce and industry.

For anyone looking to start a new career in construction, this really is a perfect time, and with our range of training courses offering both classroom and practical experience, we prepare you for a new career quickly and effectively. We are dedicated to teaching you the skills you need for a lifelong and successful career.

One of the few things politicians of all persuasions agree on is that the country needs investment in its infrastructure to ensure that we have the systems in place to take us into the future. While they argue about how much and so on, for the construction industry as the plan for infrastructure takes shape, it is having a dramatic effect.

There are several areas where such large construction plans matter and one of the main ones is the skill shortage that needs to be addressed. In almost every aspect of the construction-connected industry, from truck drivers to haul materials to skilled heavy machinery operators to work on-site, there are shortages of people with the appropriate skills.

Construction throughout the country hit new highs at the end of 2017, with over $1 trillion in November, and with government infrastructure construction spending yet to really get moving, there is much more to come. Everything from housing, where demand is high but inventory is low, through to major infrastructure projects are coming online requiring more people and more skills.

The lack of skills is a problem all over the country, and this became apparent last year after contractors struggled to recruit skilled staff in the response to Hurricane Harvey, and those problems persist today in almost every state. It is not just a recruitment problem for today either, with many skilled professionals in the building trade having an average age of 50, this is a long-term issue that is now becoming a critical problem.

For those looking for a career though, this problem definitely represents an opportunity, and for those willing to learn those in-demand skills, whether that is craftsmen, heavy machinery operators, crane operators, and everything in between, there is much to enjoy about the coming infrastructure spend. Gaining those skills is a commitment of course, but with vocational schools now back on the political agenda and awareness that there is an alternative to college to build a career, it is one people are beginning to choose.

With a skill shortage, these are careers that are paying increasingly well, and with the construction projects put in place over these next few years often stretching out into decades-long commitments, they are also able to offer a level of job security that many other areas cannot hope to match.

The ability to be a part of projects that will shape the future of the country is an amazing opportunity for anyone today, and with the right skills, even in the 21^st century, you can still leave your mark on this great land.