By Leslie Kalucki, Senior HR Business Partner, Skanska USA Building
While many veterans bring years of leadership, operational planning and problem-solving experience, translating those qualifications into a new profession can be challenging.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment & Training Services (VETS), more than 200,000 service members transition to civilian life each year. Yet research from The Veterans Metrics Initiative (TVMI) found that approximately 61% of veterans report being unemployed or underemployed during that transition. At the same time, the construction industry faces a significant workforce shortage. Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) estimates the industry will need approximately 349,000 new workers in 2026 alone to meet demand.
Construction offers veterans a career built on many of the same principles that define military service: teamwork, accountability, adaptability and leadership.
Today’s construction projects require far more than technical expertise. Project teams coordinate complex schedules, oversee safety, manage logistics and solve problems in real time. Those responsibilities closely mirror the environments many veterans experienced during their military careers.
John Feathers, superintendent at Skanska USA Building based in Nashville, has experienced firsthand the transition into the industry after military service.
“Teamwork is a large part of military life,” he said. “It correlates to construction in the same aspect that we rely on each other to do our part of the work.”
He also found that the leadership skills developed during military service translated directly to managing field operations.
“Being in the military builds character and instills leadership,” Feathers said. “Having these traits helps me coordinate with trades and makes getting different teams to work together easier.”
The parallels extend beyond leadership. Safety culture is another area where military experience aligns naturally with construction.
Jarrett Milligan, senior director and environmental health and safety project manager, believes both professions depend on trust, communication and empowering individuals to act when something isn’t right.
“Construction operates on many of the same principles,” Milligan said. “Both are dynamic environments where success depends on a strong safety culture, mentorship and the ability to adapt when conditions change.”
He noted that effective safety programs rely on every employee feeling responsible for identifying potential risks.
“In the military, the lowest-ranking person can stop an operation if something doesn’t look right,” Milligan said. “We need that same mindset on construction sites. Safety isn’t about hierarchy. It’s about empowering people to speak up before small issues become larger problems.”
That emphasis on accountability benefits both workers and projects by helping reduce injuries, delays and costly rework.
Many veterans also find that construction offers the camaraderie they valued during military service. Success depends on people working together toward a shared goal, while experienced craft professionals and project leaders often mentor newer employees as they develop technical expertise and management skills.
“Strong mentorship doesn’t just make people safer,” Milligan said. “It makes them better, faster and more consistent.”
As construction companies prepare for long-term workforce needs, veterans represent a valuable talent pool. Many already possess experience operating in high-pressure environments, making decisions under changing conditions and leading diverse teams. Those capabilities are increasingly important as projects become larger and more complex.
Across the industry, employers are strengthening partnerships with veteran organizations, apprenticeship programs and workforce development initiatives to help service members transition into construction careers. These efforts can provide clear entry points into the industry and opportunities for professional growth.
Veteran hiring is also helping reshape perceptions of construction careers more broadly. As younger generations seek meaningful, hands-on work with opportunities for advancement, construction offers clear career progression and the chance to contribute to projects that have a lasting impact on communities.
For veterans considering a civilian career, construction provides more than a job. It offers an opportunity to continue using the teamwork, problem-solving and leadership skills developed during military service while contributing to projects that improve the places where people live, work and connect.
Leslie Kalucki is senior HR business partner at Skanska USA Building, where she supports workforce development, talent strategy and employee engagement initiatives. She is passionate about creating career pathways that help veterans and other skilled professionals succeed in the construction industry.
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