Uncompromising positions

The job Construction worker

The status: We know, this doesn’t seem to be a very TONY-like category. But of the Department of Labor’s top-ten growth industries in New York, “construction” is No. 5—way above banking (No. 15) and real estate (No. 19). “There’s just a hell of a lot of construction right now,” says Tom Stabile, editor-in-chief of New York Construction magazine. Contributing to the boom: a good market across all sectors, as residential buildings, offices, higher-ed institutions and entities like Lincoln Center expand or revamp. “And then you have a lot of bridge-refurbishing projects,” says Stabile, “subway work....”

The game plan: If you’ve got an engineering degree or a business background, reconsider that Wall Street dream. “The No. 1 issue in construction these days is shortage of staff,” says Peter A. Marchetto, CEO of construction company Bovis Lend Lease. Stabile recommends that college grads try to develop into a project manager. There, says Stabile, you’ll also position yourself to be poached by real-estate developers.

The hookup: Marchetto’s looking for “both experienced and entry-level people who have a passion. We’d love candidates with degrees in construction, architecture or engineering,” he says. To throw your hard hat in the ring, go to timeoutnewyork.com/jobhookup.—Michael Friedson