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Despite today’s economic woes, the construction industry will improve, said Mike Taylor, director of ACE Academy.

And the created jobs can pay well and be personally rewarding – especially for people who like to work with their hands, Taylor said.

But while the economy remains sluggish, what are interested students to do?

Until the industry rebounds, Taylor has recommended that students go to community colleges and take math classes – or pursue associate degrees to improve employability.

Beyond that, he recommends students take jobs in something related to their area of interest – even if that’s working in the plumbing section of a home improvement store, Taylor said.

“We try to encourage kids to do that as they prepare for the industry,” Taylor said. “That or to get into military service, because the training is so good.”

All branches of the military have good programs, but the Navy probably has the widest range of specialties, he said.

Dedicated students interested in construction careers can make a good living, Taylor added.

Even now, industry laborers make decent money right out of the gate, with a state average of $34,071 a year for those with basic skills.

More specialized workers make more. Carpenters, for instance, made an average of $43,851 in Oregon in 2010, cement masons and concrete finishers averaged $44,079 and construction managers averaged $83,892, according to state labor statistics.