About

Jobs in Road and Bridge Construction

Transportation construction is essential to Florida’s future and creates paths to rewarding and successful careers!

Statewide Workforce Development Program

The Statewide Workforce Development Program for road and bridge construction was created under Florida Senate Bill 7068, which was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis on May 19, 2019. The legislative goal was the “expansion of a more robust workforce development program within the FDOT, by prioritizing training and recruiting workers to support construction of multi-use infrastructure and facilities accommodating emerging technologies to facilitate creation of a better trained workforce throughout the state, and particularly within communities in which the FDOT constructs projects.”

The legislation authorized funding for the Statewide Workforce Development program at $2.5 million a year for Fiscal Years 2020, 2021 and 2022.

The Statewide Workforce Development Program provides opportunities to build successful careers and improve lives. Through the program, the Florida Department of Transportation works with community partners to connect adult jobseekers with contractors who are hiring for road and bridge construction projects. The program also informs students about pathways to careers in the transportation industry.

The program objectives are:

• Attracting adult workers and students to a career in road and bridge construction
• Recruiting workforce to meet the current and future needs of the transportation construction industry
• Training the construction workforce in traditional and emerging construction methods and techniques
• Providing support services to remove barriers for workers to be successful in pursuing a career in road and bridge construction.

What’s the Florida Department of Transportation and what does it do?

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is an executive agency reporting to the Governor. FDOT’s primary responsibility is coordinating the planning and development of a safe, workable and balanced transportation system serving all regions of the state. Florida’s transportation system includes roadway, air, rail, sea, spaceports, bus transit and bicycle/pedestrian facilities.

What is transportation construction?

Transportation construction involves building, enhancing, expanding or maintaining physical structures that allow the safe and efficient movement of people, goods and services, such as:

• Interstates and roadways
• Airports and water ports
• Bicycle/pedestrian corridors
• Public transit

Why is transportation construction essential to Florida?

Road and bridge construction projects help ensure residents and visitors can travel safely and efficiently between work, home, school, recreational facilities and tourist destinations. These projects also are critical to the state’s ability to deliver:

• Medical supplies
• Food
• Consumer goods
• Gasoline
• Manufacturing and building equipment and materials

How does transportation construction create jobs?

Florida’s weather and business climate make the Sunshine State a desirable place to live, work and play, drawing many new residents each year. With this growth comes increased travel demands and the need to build and improve road and bridges. Those needs drive the demand for more workers to build these facilities.

In 2019, the Florida Senate Committee on Infrastructure and Security reported the highway, street and bridge construction industry will grow almost 9 percent over the next eight years. However, there’s a shortage of trained workers.

The Statewide Workforce Development Training Program:

• Benefits the economy in areas in which FDOT is constructing projects
• Builds relationships with regional and local community and business groups
• Provides career paths for future construction workers
• Addresses the construction-labor shortage by recruiting and training workers

Success Stories

Hear what real workers say about their careers in the road and bridge construction industry.

Contact Us

To learn more about the Statewide Workforce Development Program, email us at info@FloridaRoadJobs.com, call us at 1-833 ROAD-JOB (833.762.3562) or submit your question or comment via the Contact Us form.