In core markets, the number of large projects continues to rise as expected. Many projects are adopting new delivery methods, including prefabrication, which will profoundly shape how future projects are built.

DPR believes that "who we build with is as important as what we build." The team is energized that these large projects are cultivating the next generation of construction industry leaders by creating new career opportunities for administrative staff and skilled trades. Meanwhile, the industry is leveraging workforce development programs to create new pathways into construction.

For those working on complex projects that are transforming industries, communities, and the world, this is undoubtedly a great time.

Large projects, broader opportunities

The large projects currently under construction are unprecedented in scale within the non-residential building sector, often equivalent to the workload of a local office or even the revenue scale of an entire operating region.

This scale is creating new opportunities for project leaders, enabling them to take on responsibilities that would typically require years of experience. It allows talented individuals to apply what they have learned and develop skills at a speed and breadth that would be difficult to achieve under traditional models.

At DPR, nearly 6,500 employees work in administrative roles, primarily in project management, field leadership, and support. Over 850 of them have chosen to work on large projects, either locally or through our mobility program, which supports team members working at new locations across the United States.

Take Project Manager Madeline Ziser, for example, who transitioned from projects in the San Francisco Bay Area to a data center project in rural Texas.

"Choosing to join this project expanded my boundaries in all the right ways," said Ziser. "I was able to take on a role that I might not have otherwise had, or at least not yet in my career. My personal growth has felt as fast as the project schedule."

A new era of opportunities for skilled trades

While administrative opportunities are expanding, the impact on skilled trades is even more profound. Large projects have a tremendous demand for skilled craft workers—often requiring over 6,000 skilled workers at peak times.

Along with this demand, opportunities for workers to grow along career paths such as foreman, superintendent, and safety have also increased significantly.

Joshua Herrera, a general electrical foreman, transitioned from a field role to a project engineering role while working on large projects.

"Working on large projects accelerated my career," said Herrera. "It gave me the opportunity to showcase my skills to a broader group. This experience boosted my confidence, making me believe I could step into a new role sooner than expected."

Superintendent Joshua Phillips echoed that sentiment: "Serving as a superintendent on a hyperscale data center project was a career-defining opportunity that significantly expanded my leadership and operational experience. It strengthened my ability to communicate effectively with diverse craft partners, coordinate complex and ever-changing site logistics, and manage critical material deliveries to ensure uninterrupted production."

Building the future talent pipeline

Large projects are also reshaping career paths for skilled trades. As more foremen join the teams, we have the opportunity to help enhance their leadership and communication skills through DPR's Foreman Development Program. Over 420 foremen have completed this one-week, NCCER-accredited course.

Combined with our new Builder Development Program, participation in union apprenticeship programs, and DPR's NCCER-accredited apprenticeship programs in some markets, these efforts are opening career pathways for new skilled trades professionals.

We have always believed that skilled trades can provide a lifelong career. Today, these career paths are becoming more diverse, and large projects are accelerating individuals' pursuit of these paths.

Meanwhile, project owners are also helping to expand access to construction careers. In addition to local workforce programs, many owners are investing in technical education. For example, Meta recently launched the "American Workforce Academy," and we look forward to supporting that program.

Beyond construction itself: lasting impact on talent

The construction industry is evolving rapidly, with focus often on technology and delivery methods. Large projects add another important dimension: they are reshaping how construction careers are built.

From the office to the field, professionals are viewing large projects as a way to pursue new career paths, experimenting, innovating, exploring, and collaborating in new and unexpected ways.

Long after these projects are completed, their impact will endure in the people they helped develop. While new technologies have changed how we build, the era of large projects is changing what it means to build a career in the construction industry.