As some San Antonio college students learned about refrigeration, electrical work, and more on Thursday, top leaders with the National Center for Construction Education and Research and the Association of General Contractors of America watched over their shoulders, eager to learn about the skills they will soon enter the market with.
These students attend the St. Philip’s College Southwest Campus, which houses the college’s Allied Construction Trades programs. And the visit was part of the organizations’ unveiling of a national survey, which highlights the demand for more qualified construction workers.
“The survey looks at the severity of construction workforce shortages, the impact those shortages are having on firms and projects, and what contractors are doing to recruit, train and retain workers,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist at Associated General Contractors of America, which represents more than 28,000 U.S. companies, general contractors, specialty and sub contractors.
“What this year’s results make clear is that workforce shortages remain acute even as construction demand has softened in some parts of the industry,” he added.
The survey attracted 70 respondents who operate mainly in Texas, and 87% of them reported having openings for hourly craft positions. About 97% of those with hourly openings reported having a hard time filling those positions.
“Half of Texas respondents say available candidates are not qualified to work in the industry because they lack needed skills, certificates, or licenses,” Simonson said.
Trade programs like those offered at the St. Philip’s Southwest Campus, have taken a backseat to traditional four-year college degrees in federal workforce policy, Simonson said, despite these credentials leading to high-paying careers.
At St. Philip’s there’s been high demand for these trades, with year-over-year growth in all of the construction trade programs offered at this campus — HVAC, Construction Technology, Electrical Trades, Plumbing and Welding — said Christopher Beardsall, dean for academic success at the Southwest Campus.
Total enrollment for these programs grew by 963 students from the 2024-25 to the 2025-26 academic years, with Electrical Trades and Welding experiencing the biggest jumps, adding between 270 to 300 students each year.
According to the survey, electricians and welders two of the hardest hourly jobs to fill in Texas, with the biggest reasons being candidates lacking qualifications and credentials to work in these fields.
“Students are choosing the skills trades because they see a path to meaningful careers, economic mobility, and opportunities to build a future right here in our community,” said Adena Williams Loston, St. Philip’s College president.
Students graduating from these programs earn an average of $48,000 annually, Loston said. But they are not always stopping at one certificate.
Over the last five years, St. Philip’s awarded 4,493 associate degrees to students in the plumbing, air conditioning, heating, refrigeration and welding programs.
“Our programs are producing strong results,” said Alamo Colleges Chancellor Mike Flores. “Eighty-seven percent of technical education graduates are employed or continuing their education within six months of completion of their certificate or degree.”
Lauren Mandel, president of the San Antonio AGC chapter, said the main issue that their 265 member companies are facing is workforce shortages. These are companies that handle large commercial projects such as hospitals, military facilities and data centers.
“The demand for projects like data centers is creating new construction career opportunities that aren’t just jobs,” Mandel said. “These are opportunities for folks to provide for their families and achieve upward economic mobility… Construction is not a fallback, it’s a future.”
Across the five Alamo Colleges District institutions, which also include Palo Alto College, San Antonio College, Northwest Vista College and Northeast Lakeview College, there are more than 17,500 students enrolled in career and technical education programs, with about 1,500 of them enrolled in construction-related programs, Flores said.
In July, the district launched the Alamo Technical Institute, a one-stop-hub for students and employers seeking workforce training, certificates or short-term training.
Through the institute potential students can get connected with Ready to Work, Workforce Solutions Alamo, and Greater SATX Regional Economic Partnership, which help provide tuition aid and employment opportunities.
“This work is about more than filling open positions,” Flores said. “It is about removing barriers and for us connecting more people to family-supporting wages and careers that ensure growth, economic growth and workforce expansion in our community.”
The San Antonio Report partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.
