The construction industry has struggled since the Great Recession but now one of its main struggles is finding skilled workers. 

A bill passed by the state House on Monday proposes creating a fund to help schools with construction training programs and encouraging students to explore these careers. 

As written, the bill would divert 6.75% of contractor sales taxes to the new Construction Training Assistance Fund. The fund would be administered by Accelerate Mississippi, the state’s workforce development office. Accelerate would provide grants to public community colleges and K-12 schools to help provide construction training to students.

The bill’s author, Rep. Donnie Bell, a Republican from Fulton, said the bill would expose students to more opportunities and start them on a path to success. Bell and others point out that skilled workers, such as electricians and plumbers, are in high demand and can earn large salaries.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor estimates that employment for electricians will grow 9% annually through 2034. And the median annual salary for electricians and plumbers in Mississippi is over $57,000, higher than the state’s median household income of about $56,000. 

Skilled workers are especially in demand to build out the infrastructure needed for the state’s manufacturing and data center projects. In July 2025, there were 51,800 construction workers in Mississippi, up 2% from the previous year and 15% from Feb. 2020 according to a report from the Associated General Contractors of America.

At Monday’s Stennis Capitol Press Forum, Bill Cork, director of the state’s economic development agency, said construction jobs are in high demand with the companies he talks to.  

“Right now the most important skills we’re tracking are construction trades. If you believe the news reports and some of the advertising, we’re probably short 100,000 construction workers in Mississippi right now,” said Cork.