(SWEETWATER, Texas) – The Texas construction industry is booming, and Texas State Technical College is actively preparing the next generation of builders to meet the demand.
According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, there are currently more than 32,000 active construction and renovation projects across the state. To help fill the labor gap, the first cohort of TSTC’s Building Construction program in Sweetwater began their second semester this January. The curriculum combines online coursework with practical projects, including the construction of dog houses and sheds.
Allen Gilbert, a student from Dallas, said the hands-on training is what makes the program successful.
“We are visual learners, so the quicker we can get into the lab, the quicker we put our skills to use,” Gilbert said.
While the lab work is vital, students also value the foundational theory. Marc Herrera, a student from Lubbock, noted the curriculum bridges the gap between the classroom and the job site.
“This program is book-heavy, but that translates into the work we will be doing in the field,” he said. “The work we are doing here will give us more of a grasp of what to expect.”
Rohman “Rock” White, of Copperas Cove,said that the first semester provided a unique opportunity to master essential industry terminology.
“We were able to get the knowledge of the terminology we will have to use,” White said. “It was good to grasp that early in the program because we are still using it now.”
The students credit much of their progress to Matthew Travis, the program’s instructor. Gilbert described Travis, a former carpenter, as someone who ensures students know what to expect in the real world.
“He is more of a hands-on instructor who will show you what you are doing wrong,” Herrera agreed. “He puts his experience as a carpenter into the lessons.”
Herrera observed that the industry landscape is shifting, creating new opportunities for skilled workers.
“Back in the day, there was a lot of oilfield work, and then it was the wind farms. Now it is the data centers,” Herrera said. “These jobs are going to need skilled people to work so the expansion can continue.”
Gilbert sees a distinct advantage in earning a degree before entering the workforce.
“By studying at TSTC, it will put me ahead of the money I will make and the experience I will have,” he said. “We will be able to start as an apprentice, while others will have to work up to that position.”
The financial outlook for graduates is strong. According to onetonline.org, first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers earn a median annual salary of $73,420 in Texas, with 9,190 job openings projected in the state each year through 2032.
Building Construction is available at TSTC’s Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, New Braunfels, Sweetwater and Waco campuses. The program offers two Associate of Applied Science degrees and a certificate of completion.
To learn more about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.