Page 19 - Careers & Stuff 2021

CONSTRUCTION
“Construction is the third-largest growth industry in Delaware,” says Ed Capodanno, president of ABC Delaware, which is the Delaware chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors. “There are a lot of projects underway, we have a solid economy and everything looks especially good for the next 18 months.” Those projects span a wide variety
of activities from building houses to repairing highways to erecting office buildings.
Most entry-level jobs are in trades such as electricians, HVAC specialists and plumbers who are put on the company payroll and immediately start accruing benefits while they take nighttime classes in their trades. “Young people who go from high school into apprentice programs get an early start on their lives,” says Bryon Short, executive director of the Delaware Contractors Association, “and get to start making money immediately.”
Earnings in construction trades can be significant. One of the fastest-growing occupations — plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters — paid a mean annual wage of $62,892 in 2019 in Delaware. Electrical power-line installers and repairers did even better, with a mean wage of $7“4,554. HVAC mechanics and installers made $52,469 on average.
“THERE ARE A LOT OF PROJECTS UNDERWAY,
WE HAVE A SOLID ECONOMY AND
EVERYTHING LOOKS ESPECIALLY GOOD
FOR THE NEXT 18 MONTHS.”
ED CAPODANNO,
PRESIDENT OF ABC DELAWARE
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, LOGISTICS AND
HOSPITALITY
Although traditional manufacturing jobs have declined
in recent decades, those in advanced manufacturing
— defined as production jobs that utilize cutting-edge computerized skills, including automated intelligence
— continue to grow in areas such as pharmaceuticals, apparel manufacturing and even agriculture. Plus job openings will increase as a cadre of older workers retires.
Jobs in manufacturing that are worth considering include chemical technician (with a mean wage of $62,496) and repairer of commercial and industrial equipment ($66,992).
Recent headlines have shown the growing needs and demands for effective logistics — storing and shipping goods from one area to another and being able to enact the algorithms to track it all. The job needs range from computerized skills to fleet management operators to commercial driving.
The median annual pay for truckers in Delaware was $46,846 in 2019. Other in-demand positions in logistics include aircraft mechanics and service technicians
(paid an average of $66,768 in 2019 in Delaware); captains, mates and pilots of water vessels ($77,610); and commercial pilots ($104,234).
One of the most flexible industries in Delaware is hospitality, which includes restaurant, lodging and tourism jobs. Workers at all levels are in high demand, and this
is a particularly appealing industry for people who want mobility and portability of skills. Additionally, much of the training is on the job. By 2029, the number of Delaware restaurant jobs is expected to grow by 8.9% to 50,200.
“The future is bright for people just coming out of school,” Quaranta says, “while those seeking white-collar jobs will see a decline in opportunities.”
DelawareBusinessTimes.com | CAREERS & STUFF 17