At the same time, as the number of immigrants increases and as the "echo boomers" (the children of the baby boomers) start to replace the smaller "baby bust" generation in the young adult age groups, the demand for manufactured housing, starter homes, and rental apartments also is expected to increase. Employment in nonresidential construction is expected to grow a little faster than the rest of the industry because industrial construction activity is expected to be stronger as replacement of many industrial plants has been delayed for years, and a large number of structures will have to be replaced or remodeled. Construction of nursing, convalescent homes, and other extended care institutions also will increase due to the aging of the population, the growing use of high-technology medical treatment facilities, and the need for more drug treatment clinics. Construction of schools will increase to accommodate the children of the baby boom generation.

Employment in heavy construction is projected to increase about as fast as the industry average. Growth is expected in highway, bridge, and street construction, as well as in repairs to prevent further deterioration of the Nation’s highways and bridges. Poor highway conditions also will result in increased demand for highway maintenance and repair. Employment in special trades contracting, the largest segment of the industry, should grow at about the same rate as the entire construction industry. Demand for special trades subcontractors in building and heavy construction is rising, and, at the same time, more workers will be needed to repair and remodel existing homes. Home improvement and repair construction is expected to continue to grow faster than new home construction. Remodeling should be the fastest growing sector of the housing industry because of a growing stock of old residential and nonresidential buildings. Many “starter” units will be remodeled to appeal to more affluent, space- and amenity- hungry buyers. Also, some of the trade-up market may result in remodeling and additions rather than the construction of new, larger homes. Remodeling tends to be more labor-intensive than new construction. Employment growth will differ among various occupations in the construction industry. Employment of construction managers is expected to grow as a result of advances in building materials and construction methods, as well as a proliferation of laws dealing with building construction, worker safety, and environmental issues.

Construction managers with a bachelor’s degree in construction science with an emphasis on construction management, and who acquire work experience in construction management services firms, should have an especially favorable job outlook. Little change in the employment of administrative support occupations is expected due to increased office automation. Although employment in construction trades is expected to grow about as fast as the industry average, the rate of growth will vary among the various trades.

Employment of brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons; electricians; glaziers; sheet metal workers; and heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers should grow faster than the industry average because technological changes are not expected to offset employment demand as construction activity grows. Employment of carpenters; carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers; and cement masons, concrete finishers, segmental pavers, and terrazzo workers is expected to grow more slowly than the construction industry as a whole because the demand for these workers is expected to be offset by a greater use of new materials and equipment. For example, increasing use of prefabricated components in residential construction is expected to reduce the demand for carpenters.