(HARLINGEN, Texas) – As Texas faces an aging construction workforce and increasing demand for skilled professionals, Texas State Technical College’s Building Construction program is stepping up by preparing students with the training needed to bridge the gap.
The program is known for producing highly skilled candidates who fill construction jobs across the state.
According to the Texas Association of Builders, the state’s residential construction industry is experiencing a labor shortage of 306,000 workers, with 40% of the current construction workforce expected to retire by 2031.
“Each of our industry partners is seeking skilled graduates who are proficient with the Procore construction management system, can read blueprints and hold certifications such as OSHA 30, forklift operation and heavy equipment,” said Hector Rosa, lead instructor of the program in Harlingen.
Travis Menchaca, of La Feria, is working towards an associate degree in the program. He said he is ready to work in the field thanks to the skills he learned from his instructors.
“We’ve visited job sites and have been mentored by foremen and superintendents,” he said. “They walked us through their daily responsibilities to help us understand what to expect.”
Victor Mejia, a graduate of the program, has worked as an assistant project manager for two years at Cobalt Construction in Laredo.
“I’ve been using the Procore construction management system software,” he said. “It helps create and manage project schedules, and I was introduced to it at TSTC.”
Abraham Matamoros, managing director at Marek Brothers Construction Inc. in the Rio Grande Valley, said the company’s partnership with the college has been a valuable asset.
“Through that pipeline, we’ve seen TSTC graduates thrive in their roles,” he said. “Some have advanced within our company, while others have continued to grow their careers at other construction firms.”
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers in Texas earn an average annual salary of $73,420, according to onetonline.org, which projected the number of these positions to grow by 13% in the state through 2032.
TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Building Construction and a certificate of completion in Building Construction – Craftsman at its Harlingen, Marshall, New Braunfels, Sweetwater and Waco campuses.
For more information about TSTC, go to tstc.edu.