Welcome to this week’s edition of TheJobWalk! This week's read will be the last before Christmas, packed with insights higher than your wishlist. The 2024 construction journey tested our mettle. We celebrated groundbreaking successes, adapted and innovated, but most importantly, kept moving forward. Let’s nail down this year’s final stretch!

PROJECTS

Project Announcement: $800 Million Meta Data Center underway in South Carolina

It was announced in August that Meta would be bringing its 22nd data center in the US to Aiken County, South Carolina. DPR Construction is constructing the 715,000 sqft facility which will be powered by 100% renewable energy. This project will create over 1,000 construction jobs and 100 operational jobs once complete. Expected to be fully operational by spring 2027.

• Client: Meta

• General Contractors: DPR Construction

• Award: Data Center

• Value: $800 Million

• Location: Aiken, South Carolina

Project Announcement: $27 Billion Woodside Energy LNG Plant in Louisiana

Earlier this month the Bechtel Corporation signed a new contract on the five-train liquefied natural gas production and export facility near Lake Charles, Louisiana. The project spans over a 1,000 acre site and includes:

• 20 liquefaction units.

• Liquefaction technology.

• 20 GE refrigeration compressors.

• Three 235,000 cubic-meter, full-containment LNG storage tanks.

• Three marine loading berths.

After breaking ground in 2022 the expected launch date is set to be Q2 of 2029.

• Client: Woodside Energy / Tellurian Inc.

• General Contractors: Bechtel Corporation

• Award: LNG

• Value: $27 Billion

• Location: Sulphur, Louisiana

Project Complete: META Gallatin Data Center

META recently announced their new data center in Tennessee is now officially serving traffic. The project broke ground in 2020, consisting of 1.7 million square feet of space. Construction of the Gallatin Data Center has resulted in an average of 1,100 skilled trade workers on site at peak, and the facility currently supports over 100 operational jobs. META also said this facility's use is matched with 100% renewable energy.

• Company: Meta

• General Contractor: DPR Construction

• Sector: Data Center

• Investment Value: $1.5 Billion

• Location: Gallatin, Tennessee

Project Update: Micron Technology $15B Boise Fab

Micron Technology's Boise Fab, a $15 billion memory manufacturing facility in Idaho, began construction in October 2023 and is set to begin production by 2027. Spanning a vast site integrated with R&D, the project will create over 4,500 jobs in construction and 2,000 direct roles at Micron. It has just been announced that it will also be supported by a $6.1 billion U.S. government subsidy under the CHIPS Act.

• Company: Micron Technology

• General Contractor: Exyte

• Subcontractor: Engineered Structures, Inc. (ESI) & McAlvain Companies, Inc

• Sector: Manufacturing

• Investment Value: $15 Billion

• Location: Boise, Idaho

NEWS

Rising Opportunities for 2025

In 2025, the U.S. construction industry is projected to grow by 8.5%, driven by positive economic outlooks, strong government spending, and falling interest rates. (ConstructConnect)

This expansion is expected to generate significant employment opportunities across various sectors, including residential, non-residential, and civil engineering projects. However, the industry continues to face challenges in filling skilled positions, with over 75% of contractors reporting difficulties in recruitment. (The Hartford)

To address this, companies are investing in workforce training and development initiatives to attract and retain talent, aiming to bridge the labor gap and meet the growing demand for construction services. Additionally, the emphasis on sustainable and green construction is creating further demand for workers with expertise in renewable energy systems and environmentally friendly building practices.

Overall, 2025 is anticipated to be a pivotal year for job growth in construction, as the industry adapts to meet the evolving needs of the market while addressing labor challenges.

2024 Construction Snapshot

Over the course of 2024, the U.S construction industry demonstrated resilience and adaptability, achieving a market size of approximately $1.8 trillion and contributing 4% to the nation's GDP (Upmetrics). The sector experienced a 5.6% growth, reaching $1.27 trillion, with projections indicating a continued compound annual growth rate of 5.0% through 2028 (Yahoo Finance).

This expansion was driven by increased spending in both private and public sectors, supported by government initiatives like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Deloitte). Despite challenges such as labor shortages and rising material costs, the industry maintained stability, with construction costs stabilizing and spending surpassing initial forecasts (JLL).

Overall, the U.S. construction industry in 2024 showcased robust growth and adaptability amid evolving economic conditions.

WORLD

The $20 Trillion Transatlantic Express

The London to New York railway is a visionary concept proposing a 5,600 km transatlantic tunnel connecting Europe and North America. Utilizing maglev trains in vacuum tubes, speeds could exceed 500–8,000 km/h.

Proposed designs include floating tunnels, but challenges like immense pressure, safety, energy needs, and funding make it largely speculative. Estimated costs range from $10–20 trillion, with construction expected to span between 50 and 100 years.

TECH SPOTLIGHT

Drones Bringing the Aerial Advantage

Drones have significantly enhanced the U.S. construction industry by improving efficiency, accuracy, and safety. Their adoption in construction has surged by 239% over the past year, outpacing other sectors (Zeitview Blog).

The global construction drone market was valued at $4.8 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach $6.2 billion by 2030, indicating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5% (Droneii).

In the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has registered 855,860 drones as of 2024, with 37% (316,075) designated for commercial operations, including construction (Skykam).

Handheld Radar Scanners

Handheld radar scanners, like the LIDAR X1, are game changers for construction. They use radar and LiDAR technology to quickly map underground utilities, pipes, and hazards, cutting the risk of accidental damage during excavation by up to 75%. These tools are great for utility mapping, concrete scanning, and prepping sites, especially in cities where underground networks are complicated (GP Radar).

Introduced in the early 2010s, scanners like these are now used by major U.S contractors like Turner Construction, Fluor, and Bechtel. In 2024, they’ve helped cut project delays by 20–30%, and their adoption has grown by over 30% annually in the last five years, making construction safer and more efficient (UnmannedSystems).

QUICK FIRE ROUND

Your quiz questions for this week:

Which type of saw is commonly used for cutting lumber along its length (rip cuts)?

A. Circular Saw // B. Jig Saw // C. Reciprocating Saw

What does the term “Green Building” refer to?

A. Buildings made of grass // B. Structures painted green // C. Environmentally sustainable construction practices

What is a Gantt chart in construction management used for?

A. Show cost overruns // B. Schedule tasks and timelines // C. Record employee attendance

In HVAC, what does the “V” stand for?

A. Ventilation // B. Voltage // C. Vapor

A “punch list” is created during which phase of a project?

A. Groundbreaking // B. Final inspection and closeout // C. Initial design

Check out the answers at the bottom.

WEEKLY FUNNY

THIS WEEK’S HOT JOBS

1. MEP Superintendent, Data Centers

2. MEP Project Manager, Data Centers

3. Electrical Superintendent, Healthcare

4. Electrical Superintendent, Manufacturing

5. Electrical Superintendent, Data Centers

6. Preconstruction Manager, Healthcare

7. Project Manager, Healthcare

8. Project Manager, Data Centers

9. BIM/VDC Manager

10. Commissioning Manager, Commercial

REFLECTION

This week’s question to ask yourself..

What are my goals for 2025?

🚧Answers

Q1 A. Circular Saw // Q2 C. Environmentally sustainable construction practices // Q3 B. Schedule tasks and timelines // Q4 A. Ventilation // Q5 B. Final inspection and closeout

How many did you get?

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