Mon - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm, If you’re looking to start a construction career in Charleston, South Carolina, then you’ve made a great choice. Construction is an admirable career choice that contains many specialties. Unfortunately, construction jobs are becoming more and more difficult to find. However, to help you remain optimistic about your construction job search, Charleston has seen consistent rises in construction activity since 2014. After residential construction, infrastructure is a close second in terms of activity. Due to the increasing construction activity in Charleston, it’s likely that more and more jobs are becoming available in order to keep up.
So when it comes to construction job opportunities in Charleston, you likely have many options. In this article, we’ll talk about employment in Charleston, SC in general as well as available construction jobs in the area.
Labor and Employment Stats in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston’s education and workforce training system continues to build a solid base of skilled workers in construction, engineering, information technology, and more. Since 2010, Charleston has seen a nearly 20% increase in people entering the civilian workforce.
The natural resources, mining, and construction industry make up about 6% of the labor force, This means that there probably aren’t as many construction jobs available in the area as there are jobs in other industries. So finding a construction job in Charleston might be challenging, especially if you’re new to the industry.
Different Construction Jobs in Charleston, South Carolina
To have a better idea of what jobs to look for, it’s important to know what types of opportunities are available. Here are some of the top construction jobs in Charleston, SC:
- General construction worker
- Transportation construction worker
- Demolition worker
- Asphalt laborer
- Utilities maintenance worker
- Mason and concrete finisher
- Civil engineer
- Brickmason
- Carpenter
- Electrician
- Glazier
- Tile contractor
- Crane operator
- Plumber
- Painter
- Drywall installer
- Crane operator
- Cost estimator
- Project manager
- Surveyor
- Site safety manager
- Construction inspector
How to Find a Construction Job in Charleston, South Carolina
Finding a job at a construction company in Charleston, SC doesn’t have to be difficult. You just have to be strategic and know where to look. Follow these tips for a more effective job search:
- Optimize your resume. Create a resume that aligns with the type of construction job you desire. Make sure you highlight your unique strengths and skills. If you have formal construction experience, display it front-and-center. If you don’t have experience in the industry, focus on skills that can be beneficial at a construction company. Show off skills like attention to detail, good communication, fast learner, excellent time management, and strong work ethic.
- Look for entry-level positions. Search online with the keywords, “general labor,” “construction labor,” “general contractor” or “construction helper.” Many employers use these terms to search for employees with little to no experience in the construction field. Applying for an entry-level position at a construction company can increase your chances of getting hired because these positions don’t require much experience or training. Although you might be performing basic cleaning tasks or doing manual labor, these positions can help you gain valuable experience and knowledge to further your career in construction.
- Consider obtaining certification to stand out from other applicants. There are several certifications you can earn to improve your odds of landing a construction job. You can become certified by OSHA, the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), and the Construction Management Association of America. These certifications can not only help you become more successful as a construction worker, but they can also help you be more successful in your job search.
- Become an apprentice. If you’re having trouble finding a job at a construction company, you might consider an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships have on-the-job and classroom instruction. This training usually lasts anywhere between two and four years. As an added bonus, you get paid during your apprenticeship while you learn basic construction skills.
- Look on job boards. There are numerous job sites where you can search for job openings in the construction field. Sites like Indeed, Career Builder, Glassdoor, and others get regular job postings in various industries, including the construction field. Just make sure you’re filtering your search by your location. Enter Charleston in the search bar to make sure you’re viewing listings that are relevant to you and your location.
- Go through a temp agency. If it’s taking a while to land a permanent, long-term position as a construction worker, you can sign up for a short-term position at a temp agency in Charleston. Temp agencies have a wide variety of construction jobs available. Tradesmen International, Labor Finders Charleston, CCS Construction Staffing, and Trillium Staffing are just a few temp agencies in Charleston that can help you find construction jobs.
- Check out the city of Charleston’s official website or visit your local employment office. The city of Charleston’s official website regularly posts new potential employment opportunities for job seekers in the construction industry. You can also try your local employment office, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (SCDEW). The SCDEW offers resume building services, job fairs, hiring events, training opportunities, and a direct connection with employers and jobs.
- Ask around. Reach out to people who are already employed in the construction industry to find leads on job openings. If you’re lucky, someone in your network might introduce you to someone looking for help with construction.
- Focus your job search on specialties. Consider looking for more specialized positions. If you have the training and knowledge, having a specialty can often make it easier to find a construction job. For example, you can look for infrastructure and heavy construction jobs if you have experience in building railways, roads, and highways.
Construction jobs can be hard to find, even for the most seasoned workers. But if you take advantage of the right resources at your disposal, you can make your job search a lot easier. At OLTC, we have some of the best construction jobs in Charleston, SC. We are committed to hiring and nurturing top individuals, which has kept our company safe, competitive, and growing for over 70 years.