{"id":2956,"date":"2017-11-10T09:28:20","date_gmt":"2017-11-10T14:28:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/?p=2956"},"modified":"2026-02-12T05:34:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T10:34:00","slug":"veterans-construction-industry-perfect-match","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/veterans-construction-industry-perfect-match\/","title":{"rendered":"Veterans and the construction industry: A perfect match"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tVeterans and the construction industry: A perfect match\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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In February 2014, several major construction associations and more than 100 building firms pledged to add 100,000 veterans to the construction workforce over five years. Now, nearly four years later that commitment remains as strong as ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVeterans are a top priority for our member firms,\u201d says Brian Turmail, senior executive director of public affairs for the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America. \u201cThey (former military personnel) are trained to work in team environments, comfortable working outside, reliable, and know how to solve complex problems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those skills make veterans a great match for construction, especially as the industry continues to deal with a qualified worker shortage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it\u2019s not about just filling open positions for many construction firms. \u201cIn addition to meeting the need to find qualified candidates to hire,\u201d Turmail explains, \u201cour member firms feel a broader obligation to offer high-paying construction career opportunities to the brave men and women who risked their lives to protect our freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several groups, including the AGC, are leading the charge to recruit more veterans into the construction ranks. The association has been working with veteran advocates such as Hiring Our Heroes<\/a> to connect AGC members with veterans through job fairs and job boards, as well as other resources. The AGC also works with organizations like Go Build<\/a>, I Build America<\/a>, and Build Your Future<\/a> to produce and distribute veteran-specific materials that explain the many benefits of working in the construction industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transferrable skills<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest challenges for both veterans and construction firms is understanding how military job titles and codes line up with typical construction job positions. The National Center for Education and Research (NCCER) is taking the challenge head on by aligning<\/a> military positions with equivalent construction jobs. The information also includes projected job growth and wage information by position to give veterans a good idea of earning and career growth possibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The AGC also hosts webinars for its members on how to translate veteran\u2019s resumes to understand how their qualifications translate into civilian life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here to help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether you are a construction firm looking to hire veterans, or a vet interested in the construction industry, look to industry associations such as the AGC for assistance. There are also several key organizations dedicated to helping you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n