Construction internships can serve as an accessible on-ramp into an industry long plagued by a critical shortage of skilled labor.
But what exactly is an internship in the context of construction? How might internships help solve the industry’s skilled labor crisis? How does an internship differ from an apprenticeship? What are the benefits, where can you find one, and what are some strategies for navigating this inherently fraught—and still all too often, unpaid—form of pre-employment labor?
Internships are short-term positions in a workplace that can lead to future long-term employment. Internships typically last a few months at most and are often explicitly arranged to provide a cheaper source of labor for employers in exchange for professional training experience.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) gives the following definition:
“An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.”
Construction has a serious skilled labor problem. Last year, the industry averaged a shortfall of more than 390,000 vacant jobs per month, the highest level of openings on record, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors. The problem is only getting worse, with ABC estimating that the industry will need to attract a whopping 546,00 workers in addition to the normal rate of hiring in 2023.
At the same time, the construction industry’s workforce in the US is receiving a boost from two major pieces of recent federal legislation: The $550 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 and a $369 billion investment in climate solutions from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. These laws are expected to create millions of new jobs in the construction and manufacturing sectors.
Yet in a twist of irony, the expansion may only exacerbate the industry’s workforce problems. According to a recent story in Reuters, companies are nervous that they won’t be able to fill the openings, expressing concerns that there simply aren’t enough skilled workers available. As a result, a host of exciting new programs and funding in the IRA aimed at addressing climate change may be slowed or even wither on the vine. In this light, it’s no exaggeration to say that construction’s widening workforce gap could have dire consequences for the planet.
With all this in mind, internships—with their low-barrier of entry, short-term commitment, and real-world work experience opportunities—could be a crucial tool for attracting skilled workers to construction.
That is, if they’re administered fairly…
This brings us to the elephant in the room: Do interns get paid?
The short answer is that it depends entirely on the organization administering the internship.
The term “intern” certainly evokes the stereotype of an unpaid, overworked college student tasked with carting lattes between the offices of colleagues and supervisors. Unfortunately, this stereotype exists for a reason: not all internships are created equal. There are no rules or laws requiring companies to pay their interns, and indeed, not all employers have historically felt it necessary to provide their interns a wage. Things have gotten better, but a recent survey of 267 employers by NACE revealed that 40% of interns remain unpaid to this day.
On the bright side, the earnings of interns who do receive a paycheck are on the rise. According to the NACE survey, the average hourly wage of paid interns in the summer of 2020 increased by $1.22 from the previous year to $20.76.
When entering a new career, the best thing you can do right away is get educated. Like a vocational or technical school, internships fall within a spectrum of pre-employment education and training programs, apprenticeships being another perhaps more familiar example in the context of construction.
So what are the differences between internships and apprenticeships? What are the pros and cons of each?
Let’s take a look.
With all this in mind, internships might seem undesirable in comparison to an apprenticeship. And to be sure, apprenticeships are indeed an excellent way to launch a career in construction…but they aren’t ideal for every situation.
For one thing, apprenticeships aren’t as immediately accessible as an internship, as they are far more competitive, involve a higher level of training, and take more time to complete. In that vein, apprenticeships are significantly more intensive than internships, which may not mesh with where everyone is at in their current career journey. If, for instance, you’re still trying to figure out which occupation to pursue, an internship or two can open doors and expose you to multiple industries and career fields without a massive commitment of time and energy to learning the ropes of a single occupation.
In short, apprenticeships and internships both have their advantages and disadvantages. Deciding which route is best for you depends a great deal on your current career priorities.
As with any profession, the responsibilities of a construction intern will vary from sector to sector and job to job. A construction intern may be assigned to a specific project with a finite beginning, middle, and end, or may instead perform a variety of more open-ended duties, filling in gaps in workflows as needed.
In general, construction interns can expect to spend a lot of time observing or “job shadowing” colleagues in the workplace, be it in the steps of a construction manager on the job site or beside the drafting table of an architect back at the design studio. As part of their overall education about workplace operations, a construction intern may also be expected to attend staff and departmental meetings.
For a clearer idea of what a specific construction internship entails, check the “job description” or “duties and responsibilities” portion of the application. If no description is provided, feel free to contact the organization and ask.
Internships are an alternative form of labor exchange that benefit both employers and prospective workers in different ways. Overall, workers can build up their resumes while employers get the advantage of an extra pair of hands on deck.
Most major construction firms are actively looking for interns. You can also find an abundance of places to apply on the usual job search platforms, including LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter.
For a source that’s tailored to finding internships, check out Chegg Internships: As of this writing Chegg has more than 5,000 listings for construction internships in multiple professions across the US, both remote and in-person.
If you’re a college student, your school likely has a career center staffed with advisors who can help you find and apply for internship opportunities.
Internships are a delicate arrangement. If handled poorly, the experience can turn sour for both the employer and the intern. Then again, if handled with care, an internship can be a mutually beneficial and enlightening experience for everyone involved.
Here are a few tips for how both parties can get the most out of a construction internship.
Apprenticeships are the traditional route into a construction career, but they aren’t the best for every situation. With greater flexibility and a lower-barrier of entry, well-built construction internship programs may be a better fit for some. They also might be a powerful tool in the race to fill the construction industry’s skilled labor gap. Paid construction internships in particular can serve as a strong enticement into the field for individuals at the outsets of their career journeys. If both parties enter into it with thought and care, an internship can be an ideal arrangement that benefits everyone.