Construction is Going Green: What Does That Mean for Day Laborers?

Green construction – the practice of building structures in a resourceful and environmentally responsible way – is taking the job world by storm. According to a new study from U.S Green Building Council and Booz Allen Hamilton, going green when it comes to construction is (and will continue to be) a booming industry. Making up more than 2.3 million of US jobs this year, this trend is having major effects not only on the environment but on the economy as well. “Green building is playing a massive role in the U.S. construction sector, the clean and efficient energy sector and the U.S. economy as a whole,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, USGBC in a press release. “More than 2.3 million U.S. workers are taking home $134 billion annually in large part because of green building programs like LEED . Demand for green building will only continue to grow as individuals, businesses and institutions continue to prioritize sustainable approaches to the design, construction and operations of our built environment.” From picking the right location to the creating an energy efficient building, green construction is the wave of the future. What does that mean for today’s day laborers?

More Job Opportunities for Day Laborers

By 2018, green construction will account for more than a third of jobs. That means there will be a lot more opportunities for construction workers in the coming years. “Our research shows that green building has created millions of jobs and contributed hundreds of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy, with the construction of LEED-certified buildings accounting for about 40 percent of green construction’s overall contribution to GDP in 2015,” said David Erne, a Senior Associate at Booz Allen in the USGBC’s press release. “This industry is certainly on the rise, and aggressive growth in the green building sector is anticipated over the next four years.” These newly created jobs will also provide invaluable on-the-job training for day laborers.

Re-Thinking How Work is Performed On Site

While the essential functions of day laborers does on a job site won’t change, the way it’s done will. Because green construction centers on the idea of being kind to the environment, day laborers must keep this in mind when working on a building project. Heavy equipment operators have to make sure not to damage sensitive site areas such as an endangered animal’s habitat or an eroding watershed. Site managers may enact strict recycling plans for unused materials while HVAC workers need to ensure that the equipment they’re working on creates healthy air quality inside the building. There’s no doubt that green building is here to stay and that’s great news for those with careers in construction.

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