Young people are leaving college in the United States and competing for jobs in construction with salaries of R$ 500,000 per year.

Written by Flavia Marinho

Published on 11/04/2026 at 21:12

Seja o primeiro a reagir!

With fewer opportunities in the traditional market and fear of artificial intelligence, American youth line up for jobs in construction and transform the sector into a new highly competitive career path.

Instead of backpacks heading to university, lines during the early morning on the sidewalks. A silent but increasingly visible movement is changing the future of work in the United States. Young people are abandoning college and competing for jobs in construction, attracted by high salaries and a field where artificial intelligence does not yet threaten jobs.

In cities like New York, the scene has become routine. Companies open applications, and within minutes, all positions disappear. In some cases, more than 100 candidates compete for fewer than 20 opportunities, revealing a market in full boil.

New generation exchanges diploma for hard hat

The profile of workers has changed rapidly. Previously, the construction sector was dominated by professionals over 30 years old. Now, young people in their 20s are entering directly after high school, without going to college.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Artificial intelligence accelerates course change

The advancement of artificial intelligence weighs directly on this decision. Recent research indicates that most young Americans believe that technology may replace traditional roles in the coming years.

Fields such as programming, customer service, and administrative tasks are already showing signs of reduced hiring of young people. This increases the insecurity of those considering investing years in academic training without a guarantee of return.

In contrast, manual jobs are gaining strength. Roles in construction, maintenance, and installations are seen as more secure. Many young people claim they prefer a stable profession today rather than betting on careers that may disappear with automation.

High salaries transform the sector into a target of dispute

In addition to security, money speaks loudly. Unionized apprenticeship programs offer salaries from the start and benefits such as health insurance.

After training, specialized professionals can achieve earnings close to $100,000 per year, equivalent to about R$500,000. This financial potential helps explain the explosion in demand.

The result is a race for positions. The number of candidates has increased by about 20% in some areas and has even grown by 50% in specific construction sectors in recent years.

The internet has also accelerated this movement. Profiles on social media have begun to share application dates and opportunities in real-time.

As a result, young people who previously did not even consider working in construction are now entering the competition. Quick information has transformed access to jobs and increased competition nationwide.

College loses ground as the only path

Experts point out that this trend reveals a profound change in mindset. For decades, college was seen as a guarantee of professional success. Today, this promise no longer seems so solid for the new generation.

More and more young people are seeking alternatives that offer quicker financial returns and stability. At the same time, they find in construction a sense of belonging and appreciation for manual labor.

Still, the decision is not always simple. Many face resistance from family, especially because it is a physically demanding activity.

Investments in infrastructure expand opportunities

The scenario is also driven by large investments. In New York alone, billions of dollars are being allocated to infrastructure projects, with plans to create about 30,000 apprenticeship positions by 2030.

Professional training programs are seeing record demand. In some courses, more than 250 people compete for fewer than 20 spots, showing that demand is only growing.

With construction advancing and the need for skilled labor, the sector is expected to continue attracting young people in the coming years.

What lies behind this historical change

The choice of construction is not just financial. It reflects a new perspective on work, security, and the future. Young people are prioritizing stability, immediate income, and protection against automation.

This movement could redefine the labor market in the United States. And if it continues at this pace, construction may cease to be seen as an alternative and consolidate itself as one of the main choices of the new generation.

If you think this trend could reach Brazil, leave your comment and share this post with those who follow changes in the labor market.

0 Comentários

Mais recente

Mais antigos Mais votado

Feedbacks

Visualizar todos comentários

Young people are leaving college in the United States and competing for jobs in construction with salaries of R$ 500,000 per year.

With fewer opportunities in the traditional market and fear of artificial intelligence, American youth line up for jobs in construction and transform the sector into a new highly competitive career path.

New generation exchanges diploma for hard hat

Artificial intelligence accelerates course change

High salaries transform the sector into a target of dispute

College loses ground as the only path

Investments in infrastructure expand opportunities

What lies behind this historical change

On the Greek island of Ithaca, archaeologists have found what may be a sanctuary dedicated to the legendary Odysseus, with inscriptions bearing his name and votive offerings that span from the Mycenaean to the Hellenistic era.

Scientists enter a narrow, flooded cave 500 meters deep and find giant dinosaur footprints on the ceiling measuring up to 1.25 meters, preserved in such a rare way that a new type of trace had to be created.

After two years of internal discussions, Paraguay has finally regulated the law that opens the country to foreign technology and service companies with tax incentives that promise to create thousands of jobs and change the economy.

Map reveals how the Earth may look in 250 million years: continents will reunite in the Last Pangaea, 92% of the planet could become uninhabitable for mammals, and Spain appears among the rare possible exceptions.

Why fighter pilots never return after ejecting: the seat launches the body at 600 km/h in 1 second, compresses the spine, reduces G tolerance, and leads to medical disqualification, not punishment.

With 1,000 buses sent abroad, the Brazilian manufacturer consolidates the strength of national technology and takes on a leading role in public transportation across all of Latin America.

A giant half-ton ring fell in Kenya from space, and more than a year later, scientists still do not know where it came from.

China has just launched for the first time the CH-7, a stealth drone in the shape of a flying wing that flies at 925 kilometers per hour, is nearly invisible to radar, and was designed to monitor battlefields and entire oceans.

BYD presents the new Great Tang electric vehicle with 7 seats, Blade battery of 130.15 kWh, a range of up to 590 miles CLTC, AWD 585 kW, and 0 to 100 in 3.9 seconds.

Amidst calm landscapes and a peaceful pace of life, a town in the interior of São Paulo holds a secret that impresses experts: it produces almost half of Brazil’s mineral water.

Found in Giza 100 years ago, an Egyptian dress made of 7,000 beads belonged to a woman from the time of Khufu and impresses with the details preserved after millennia.

Young people are leaving college in the United States and competing for jobs in construction with salaries of R$ 500,000 per year.

With fewer opportunities in the traditional market and fear of artificial intelligence, American youth line up for jobs in construction and transform the sector into a new highly competitive career path.

New generation exchanges diploma for hard hat

Artificial intelligence accelerates course change

High salaries transform the sector into a target of dispute

Social media boosts the race for jobs

College loses ground as the only path

Investments in infrastructure expand opportunities

What lies behind this historical change

On the Greek island of Ithaca, archaeologists have found what may be a sanctuary dedicated to the legendary Odysseus, with inscriptions bearing his name and votive offerings that span from the Mycenaean to the Hellenistic era.

Scientists enter a narrow, flooded cave 500 meters deep and find giant dinosaur footprints on the ceiling measuring up to 1.25 meters, preserved in such a rare way that a new type of trace had to be created.

After two years of internal discussions, Paraguay has finally regulated the law that opens the country to foreign technology and service companies with tax incentives that promise to create thousands of jobs and change the economy.

Map reveals how the Earth may look in 250 million years: continents will reunite in the Last Pangaea, 92% of the planet could become uninhabitable for mammals, and Spain appears among the rare possible exceptions.

Why fighter pilots never return after ejecting: the seat launches the body at 600 km/h in 1 second, compresses the spine, reduces G tolerance, and leads to medical disqualification, not punishment.

With 1,000 buses sent abroad, the Brazilian manufacturer consolidates the strength of national technology and takes on a leading role in public transportation across all of Latin America.

A giant half-ton ring fell in Kenya from space, and more than a year later, scientists still do not know where it came from.

The minimum wage for 2027 could reach R$ 1,717, and the value circulating in government circles is beginning to raise curiosity as it suggests possible changes in income, social benefits, and the purchasing power of millions of Brazilians.

These 6 professions allow you to retire early with just 15 years of contribution and 55 years of age.

The plan of R$ 526.3 billion that could reindustrialize Rio de Janeiro by 2028 includes nearly 2,000 projects mapped by Firjan and creates one of the largest waves of investments ever concentrated in a single Brazilian state.

The shot backfired: the United States sanctions intended to curb China ended up creating a record revenue boom for Chinese chip manufacturers, with growth of up to 247% in a single year.

With a dependency of up to 80% on gas imported from the United States, Mexico responds with a robust energy strategy, betting on shale gas, creating a scientific committee, and preparing to expand natural gas production to reduce vulnerability and strengthen its energy security in the coming years.

China has just launched for the first time the CH-7, a stealth drone in the shape of a flying wing that flies at 925 kilometers per hour, is nearly invisible to radar, and was designed to monitor battlefields and entire oceans.

BYD presents the new Great Tang electric vehicle with 7 seats, Blade battery of 130.15 kWh, a range of up to 590 miles CLTC, AWD 585 kW, and 0 to 100 in 3.9 seconds.

Amidst calm landscapes and a peaceful pace of life, a town in the interior of São Paulo holds a secret that impresses experts: it produces almost half of Brazil’s mineral water.

Found in Giza 100 years ago, an Egyptian dress made of 7,000 beads belonged to a woman from the time of Khufu and impresses with the details preserved after millennia.