Construction Career Pathways
As a workforce intermediary, the
Colorado Adult Education Coalition (CAEC)
strengthens Colorado's adult education and
workforce development system by
connecting General Education Diploma
(GED), High School Equivalency (HSE),
English as a Second Language (ESL),
Corrections, and Adult Literacy learners with
education, training, and employment
opportunities.Through career navigation,
workforce readiness, individualized coaching, and
strategic partnerships, CAEC helps individuals prepare
to pursue Registered Apprenticeships and sustainable careers.
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CAEC collaborates with employers, labor organizations, Registered Apprenticeship sponsors, workforce agencies, and adult education providers to build clear pathways into high-demand industries. By integrating foundational education, employability skills, industry-recognized credentials, and direct connections to training and employment, CAEC equips participants with the knowledge, experience, and support needed to successfully transition into apprenticeship and the workforce.
MC 3 Apprenticeship Readineses Program
In partnership with TradesFutures, Construction Career Pathways program is a pre-apprenticeship pathway utilizing MC3 curriculum. MC3 is a standardized apprenticeship-readiness curriculum designed to introduce participants to construction and Registered Apprenticeship opportunities across the trades.
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Participants build foundational knowledge in construction math, tools and materials, health and safety, blueprint reading, the construction industry, and other MC3 curriculum areas while receiving career navigation and connections to apprenticeship opportunities.
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Through MC3 apprenticeship readiness, adult education recruitment, career navigation and participant support, CAEC prepares and connects prospective apprentices with opportunities across Colorado's building trades.
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Supplemental learning that strengthens career success.
These short courses, workshops, and learning experiences help participants develop transferable skills that support successful transitions into Registered Apprenticeship, employment, continued education, and long-term career advancement.
Career Pathway Enrichment
ESL for the Trades
Building English skills for apprenticeship and the workplace.
A CAEC supplemental enrichment class designed for English language learners pursuing careers in construction and the skilled trades. Participants strengthen trade-related vocabulary, workplace communication, safety language, tool and material terminology, measurements, and jobsite conversations.
Ai in the Trades
A CAEC supplemental enrichment offering that introduces participants to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies affecting construction and the skilled trades. Participants explore applications related to safety, planning, estimating, communication, productivity, and the changing construction workplace.
General Education Diploma (GED)
Building academic skills for apprenticeship and career success.
A CAEC supplemental class designed for participants working toward a GED or High School Equivalency (HSE) while pursuing careers in construction and the skilled trades. Instruction connects math, reading, science, and workplace problem-solving to real-world construction concepts while supporting preparation for HSE testing, pre-apprenticeship, Registered Apprenticeship, and employment.
Career Navigation & Support
AEC connects participants with the tools, experiences, resources, and industry relationships needed to successfully pursue their career goals
Workforce Readiness
Employability skills
Resume and interview preparation
Workplace communication
Job search and networking support
Strategic Partnerships
Apprenticeship sponsors and unions
Employers and industry partners
Adult education providers
Workforce centers
Community organizations
State and economic development partners
Employment Readiness & Industry Exposure
Employer and industry site visits
Union and apprenticeship training center tours
Jobsite and workplace observations
Employer and Union Representative Guest Speakers
Conversations with employers and industry professionals
Exploration of high-demand career
Coaching
Career and action planning
Progress monitoring
Barrier and resource navigation
Transition and follow-up support
Workforce Development Partners
Adams County Workforce & Business Center
Arapahoe/Douglas Works!
Boulder County Workforce Boulder County
Denver Workforce Services
Jefferson County Business & Workforce Center
Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development
Pikes Peak Workforce Center
Pueblo Workforce Center
Mesa County Workforce Center
Northwest Colorado Workforce Center
Rural Resort Region Workforce Center
Weld County Employment Services
Connecting Colorado (statewide workforce system)
Union Partners
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 68 – Inside Wireman apprenticeship
IBEW Local 111 – Lineworker apprenticeship
United Association Local 3 – Plumbing, pipefitting, HVAC, and sprinkler fitting
Carpenters Local 555 – Commercial carpentry, millwrights, floor covering, pile driving
Sheet Metal Workers Local 9 – Sheet metal fabrication and HVAC
Operating Engineers Local 9 – Heavy equipment operators and mechanics
Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 3 – Bricklayers, tile setters, terrazzo workers
Heat and Frost Insulators Local 28 – Mechanical insulation
Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 720 – Construction laborers
Iron Workers Local 24 – Structural and reinforcing ironworkers
Adult Education Partners
Colorado Adult Education providers
Colorado Community College System
Emily Griffith Technical College
Aurora Community College
Community College of Denver
Industry & Apprenticeship Partners
Colorado Building and Construction Trades Council
TradesFutures (administrator of MC3)
Registered Apprenticeship sponsors
Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Colorado
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Rocky Mountain Chapter
Home Builders Association of Metro Denver
Economic Development & Business Organizations
Arvada Chambers of Commerce
Regional Economic Development Organizations
Industry sector partnerships
Local employers and employer associations
Community Partners
African American Trade Association
Pride Initiative
Second Chance Center
Douglas County Library
Denver Public Library
Literacy Coalition of Colorado
The Master's Apprentice
EXPLORE SKILLED TRADES
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Not sure which construction career is right for you? Explore skilled-trade careers, wages, training opportunities, apprenticeships, and career preparation resources.
YOUTH CAREER EXPLORATION
Find your future in the skilled trades
Built for high-school students and recent grads (16–24), plus parents and educators. Explore high-paying trade careers, take a free career quiz, and find apprenticeships and programs near you — no four-year degree required.
EXPLORE YOUTH SKILLED TRADES
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ADULT CAREER EXPLORATION
Your next career is in the skilled trades
Changing careers or leaving the military? Find apprenticeships, training programs, and trade schools near you — plus the funding to pay for them. No four-year degree required, just the drive to build something real.
EXPLORE ADULT SKILLED TRADES
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EXPLORE MORE...
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Not sure which construction career is right for you? Explore skilled-trade careers, wages, training opportunities, apprenticeships, and career preparation resources.
Over 649,000 job openings per year in construction and extraction occupations, driven by infrastructure investments, residential buildouts, and an aging workforce retiring out of the trades.
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Despite short-term fluctuations in commercial and multi-family residential building, demand for skilled labor (electricians, HVAC, plumbers, equipment operators) remains high due to aging infrastructure projects and ongoing population needs across the Front Range.
High-Demand Roles: Fast-growing specializations include Solar Photovoltaic Installers (+42% projected growth), Electricians (+10%), and Heavy Equipment Operators.
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Skilled Shortages: Industry surveys consistently show that over 65–80% of construction firms struggle to find qualified applicants, leading contractors to offer hiring incentives, employer-paid training, and rapid wage increases.
Welding Trade Careers
Infrastructure & Construction: Ongoing regional highway expansion, commercial development, and civil infrastructure projects drive high demand for AWS (American Welding Society) certified structural welders.
Energy & Pipeline Operations: Weld County and Eastern Colorado maintain strong demand for pipe welders across natural gas, oil, and renewable energy sectors.
Aerospace & Advanced Manufacturing: Front Range manufacturing hubs (Denver, Boulder, Larimer County) rely heavily on precision TIG welders working with stainless steel, aluminum, and exotic alloys for defense and aerospace components.
Weatherization Trade Careers
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Colorado employment estimates:
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Approximately 1,090 insulation workers (floor, ceiling, and wall) are employed in Colorado.
Approximately 580 mechanical insulation workers are employed statewide.
The average annual wage is approximately $49,830 for building insulation workers and $61,960 for mechanical insulation workers.
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Trade Careers
The vast majority of HVAC professionals approximately 70% are employed directly by specialty plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors, while self-employed workers account for about 5% of the market, and wholesale trade and commercial maintenance roles make up an additional 6% combined.
Entering the field typically requires a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a trade school certificate earned over 6 to 24 months, followed by long-term on-the-job training or a formal 3- to 5-year apprenticeship.
Earnings vary noticeably by sub-sector: technicians in wholesale trade ($65,760/year) and educational or government facilities ($60,960/year) command slightly higher average wages than those working in traditional residential contracting ($58,750/year).
Boilermaker Trade Careers
Colorado boilermakers earn an average of approximately $37.46 per hour, or $77,910 annually, with a median hourly wage of approximately $37.53. Entry into the occupation typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent, with most workers developing their technical skills through a Registered Apprenticeship, rather than a four-year college degree.
Nationally, approximately 10,400 boilermakers were employed in 2024, and although employment is projected to decline slightly by 2 percent through 2034, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects approximately 800 job openings each year, largely due to retirements and workers transitioning to other occupations.
These workforce characteristics make the boilermaker trade a valuable career pathway for individuals seeking apprenticeship-based training, competitive wages, and employment in construction, welding, fabrication, industrial maintenance, and related skilled trades.
Electrical Trade Careers
In Colorado, Electricians (SOC 47-2111) represent one of the state’s larger skilled construction trades and provide a strong pathway into Registered Apprenticeship and family-sustaining employment.
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According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics state occupational data, Colorado employed approximately 16,110 electricians, with a median wage of $29.25 per hour and an average wage of $30.17 per hour, or approximately $62,760 annually.
Electricians typically enter the profession with a high school diploma or equivalent and extensive apprenticeship-based, on-the-job and technical training, making the occupation particularly relevant for individuals pursuing alternatives to a traditional four-year degree.
Opportunities also extend into rural Colorado: BLS reported approximately 260 electricians in Eastern and Southern Colorado’s nonmetropolitan area, with an average annual wage of approximately $62,210.
These workforce characteristics make electrical careers an important component of construction career pathways, offering opportunities in residential and commercial construction, industrial facilities, infrastructure, maintenance, and energy-related projects.
Electrical Wireman Trade Careers
Employment for electrical power-line installers and repairers is projected to grow 7% from 2024–2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
The median annual wage was $92,560 in 2024.
Approximately 10,700 job openings are projected annually because of infrastructure expansion and retirements.
Painting Trade Careers
Covered Employment: 3,700 painters are directly employed on payrolls in Colorado. (Note: Total active painters including self-employed subcontractors is estimated at 5,000 to 5,500).
Rank in Construction: Painters are the 8th largest trade group in Colorado by overall headcount.
Concentration Hotspot: Northwest Colorado (resort towns including Steamboat, Vail, and Aspen) has one of the highest concentrations of painters in the nation (Location Quotient: 2.81 vs. the U.S. baseline of 1.0) due to high-end residential repaints and harsh mountain weather maintenance.
Drywall Finishing Trade Careers
Statewide Employment: Approximately 1,560 to 1,900 drywall and ceiling tile installers/finishers are employed across Colorado.
Statewide Concentration: Colorado’s wage rates for drywall mechanics sit about 3% below the national average, though demand remains steadily elevated due to ongoing commercial and residential construction along the Front Range.
Industry Representation: A significant portion of commercial drywall finishers in Colorado are represented by the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 81, while residential work remains predominantly non-union/subcontractor-based.
Glazing Trade Careers
Statewide Employment: Approximately 1,440 to 1,720 active glaziers are employed in Colorado.
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Job Concentration: Colorado has a high concentration of glaziers relative to national averages (a location quotient near 1.45 to 1.78), driven by high-density commercial growth along the Front Range.
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National Job Outlook: Glazier positions nationwide are projected to grow by 3% through 2034, keeping pace with standard construction growth.
Sheet Metal Trade Careers
Total Employment: Approximately 1,600 to 2,070 sheet metal workers are employed statewide in Colorado.
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Workforce Share: Sheet metal workers account for roughly 0.57 to 0.73 jobs per 1,000 overall jobs in Colorado.
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Demographics: Statewide, the trade mirrors national trends where over 68% of sheet metal workers are employed directly in building construction and mechanical contracting.
Elevator Mechanic Trade Careers
The apprenticeship generally lasts 4 to 5 years and includes:
Approximately 8,000 hours of paid on-the-job training
100–200 hours of classroom instruction each year
Wage increases as skills improve
Eligibility to become a licensed mechanic after completing training and passing the mechanic exam
Median annual wage: $106,580
Median hourly wage: $51.24
Apprentices usually begin at about 50% of a mechanic's wage, with scheduled increases throughout the apprenticeship.
Colorado supports approximately 5,000 cement masons and concrete finishers and roughly 700 plasterers and stucco masons, demonstrating an established workforce of nearly 5,800 workers across these related trades.
Cement masons and concrete finishers earn approximately $60,000 annually on average in Colorado, with employment concentrated in major construction markets including the Denver metropolitan area and Northern Colorado.
These occupations provide accessible skilled-trade pathways into commercial construction, concrete finishing, infrastructure, plastering, stucco, restoration, and related construction careers, with apprenticeship and work-based training providing alternatives to a traditional four-year college pathway.
