TSTC’s Building Construction program expands to meet statewide need

As Texas continues to experience rapid growth, the demand for skilled construction workers is outpacing the supply — a gap that Texas State Technical College has worked to fill through the expansion of its Building Construction program across the state.

TSTC now offers its Associate of Applied Science degree in Building Construction and its certificate of completion in Building Construction – Craftsman at five campuses: Harlingen, Marshall, New Braunfels, Sweetwater and Waco. The statewide expansion has brought new opportunities for students and industry partners, as well as an influx of Texans eager to join one of the state’s fastest-growing career fields.

According to onetonline.org, first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers in Texas earn an average annual salary of $73,420, and the number of these positions is projected to grow 13% through 2032. The sustained demand is driven by population growth, new commercial projects and the increasing need for residential housing.

For students like Cynthia Esquivel, of La Villa, that demand represents opportunity — and long-term stability. Cynthia is pursuing her associate degree in Building Construction at TSTC’s Harlingen campus, inspired by years spent learning dependability, punctuality and craftsmanship alongside her father and brothers on construction sites.

“The construction field fascinates me, thanks to my father,” she said. “He taught me the importance of being dependable and on time.”

Cynthia said TSTC offered the path she needed: hands-on learning, affordability and support close to home.

“The instructors have taught us the correct ways to use tools and operate equipment,” she said. “An assignment we recently did involved building a base floor. The hands-on training has energized me to learn more.”

Instructor Ray Rodriguez said Cynthia represents the type of student who thrives in TSTC’s model.

“Cynthia works safely and collaborates well with her classmates,” he said. “Safety, quality and productivity are the top expectations in our program.”

Cynthia said the experience is already reshaping her confidence — especially in areas she once found challenging.

“Mathematics has always been a challenge for me,” she said. “Our assignments require plenty of it, from precise measurements to verifying elevation. But I’ve developed a passion for this trade and look forward to growing my skills.”

Meeting Industry Needs Across Texas

In New Braunfels, where construction demand continues to surge along the I-35 corridor, TSTC’s Building Construction program is helping prepare the next generation of builders starting with one foundational skill: blueprint reading.

“To the untrained eye, a blueprint can look like a lot of confusing lines,” said Josh Ritter, an instructor at the New Braunfels campus. “But once students learn what each symbol means, it becomes a puzzle they can solve.”

Josh said one of his goals is helping students see beyond traditional residential work.

“They can succeed in many areas of construction,” he said. “I want them to understand all the opportunities this field offers.”

Local industry leaders are taking notice. Eric Kennedy, director of revenue and preconstruction strategy at SpawGlass Contractors, Inc. in New Braunfels, said there is a shortage of skilled construction workers, and programs like TSTC’s are critical.

“The industry needs craft team members,” Eric said. “TSTC’s business model prioritizes the quality of students over the quantity, and that helps employers tremendously.”

For students like Lance Pool Jr., of New Braunfels, that demand translates into a promising start. Lance, who enjoys hands-on work and time outdoors, said the transition into TSTC’s program has been smooth.

“I’ve always liked working with my hands,” he said. “I want to be active.”

Classmate Elias Garza, of San Antonio, said he chose the program because he wants a long-term career and hopes to join a company that values its employees.

“The semester started slow, but now everything is picking up,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed learning about blueprints. I want to land a job in the career field.”

New Opportunities in Sweetwater

TSTC’s Sweetwater campus launched its first cohort of Building Construction students in the fall, marking another step in the college’s expansion. The sound of nail guns, drills and saws fills the lab as students turn classroom concepts into practical skills.

“The first semester is really book-heavy,” said Marc Herrera, of Lubbock. “But then we get to come into the lab, actually do the work, and see the progress.”

Marc returned to TSTC after earning a Welding Technology certificate in 2024.

“My first thought was, I’m coming back to TSTC,” he said. “This has been a good program for me.”

Students started with building birdhouses — a deceptively simple project that helps them learn tool safety, measurement and construction sequencing. Instructor Matthew Travis said the early project reinforces the connection between classroom learning and hands-on practice.

Growth Continues in East Texas

At the Marshall campus, the first cohort had 32 students enrolled.

For Elijah Murray, of Longview, the program represents a fresh start and a path toward his dream of eventually building his own home.

“I like trying new things and setting an example for the next people to come,” he said. “I’m super excited to learn all these things and use them for myself one day.”

Classmate Anniver Tengeg, one of the first recipients of the Martin Specialty Coatings scholarship, hopes to use his skills to help others. 

“I want to know how to build my own house because I want to be a missionary going around helping people,” Anniver said. “I can help build homes for people.”