As of 2025, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) remains the biggest investment ever made by the U.S. government into roads, highways, and bridges. Of the 1.2 trillion authorized funding, $108 billion will go into public transportation. Signed into law in 2021 by the former President Biden’s administration, the funding will run until the end of 2026, impacting not just infrastructure but also the labor force. More specifically, the next 12 to 18 months is when the IIJA workforce impact will be felt in the U.S. labor market due to surges in demand for skilled labor.
Where the Jobs Are Coming
One of the primary goals of the IIJA is to create jobs. According to the legislation, infrastructural projects have a positive effect on job opportunities. For instance, building or repairing roads requires workers and civil engineers. As a result, skilled workers within the public transportation industry will be highly sought after. These include roles like site supervisors, civil engineers, project managers, and heavy equipment operators.
This demand will also extend to adjacent sectors like manufacturing, supply chain, and public transit. For instance, roles like bus and rail operators, transit engineers, and maintenance mechanics are essential for ensuring public transit runs efficiently.
Also worth noting is that the impact of IIJA in creating jobs isn’t limited to immediate employment. When people in the economy get jobs, they have more income to spend. This increased purchasing power leads to growth in other sectors, which, consequently, means more job creation.
Technology and Green Energy Roles on the Rise
Funding for the modernization of the electric grid, increasing access to high-speed internet, and building an electric vehicle (EV) charging station network is included in the IIJA. The IIJA recognizes that while this technology is important, sustainability is necessary. As such, clean energy has become a big focus of this legislation.
For instance, the IIJA allocated a total of 28 billion to clean energy technology. This was in a bid to modernize the U.S.’s energy grid, bring energy costs down, and reduce its dependence on external suppliers for clean energy technology. An additional $21 billion in investment was channeled toward environmental remediation efforts in urban and rural communities.
These investments will stimulate the creation of jobs in technology and environmental sustainability. For instance, roles like systems engineers, transit tech developers, and data analysts are vital for innovation in tech, while environmental compliance, sustainability officers, and ESG consultants play a huge role in attaining clean energy.
Workforce Challenges Ahead
While the IIAJ has a lot of positives, it faces several setbacks. One of the biggest challenges is the shortage of skilled trades in the U.S. Generally, job creation is a good thing. However, it can be negative in cases where demand has far outpaced the supply. And that is the exact case in some of these sectors that the IIJA has an effect on.
Research shows that enrollment in skilled trade schools has been on a historical decline since the 1980s. For a long time, a lot of people considered getting a four-year college degree as the only sure way to a successful career and life. It’s only recently that enrollment in trade schools has surged. This situation has created a gap in skilled trades in the U.S.
Making the situation even worse is an aging workforce. Many skilled professionals in construction, engineering, and transportation are quickly approaching retirement, with far fewer younger workers to replace them. In fact, employment trends show that for every three retiring baby boomers, only one Gen X or millennial is willing to take a job in the trades. Without a concentrated effort to recruit, train, and retain new talent, implementation of the IIAJ risks delays or compromise due to the lack of skilled workers.
The Role of Recruiters in Scaling the Workforce
As the IIAJ continues to roll out, companies that have skilled workers will be better positioned to leverage grants and opportunities created by the legislation. Recruiters have never been more important than now, especially in light of an imbalanced scale between supply and demand for skilled trades.
Recruiting companies like MRINetwork usually have deep networks and knowledge of the labor market. We know where to look for skilled trades recruitment and how to find these workers. This is essential in accelerating the time-to-hire and improving the hiring success rates, especially in a tight market as we’re currently experiencing.
Conclusion: Building More Than Roads
With so many opportunities made available by the IIJA for companies, standing out in the competition is essential. One way to do that is through a future-proof recruitment strategy. With MRINetwork, your organization can achieve that. It’s not just about attracting and hiring skilled talent — you must retain them.Â
Connect with us today to find out how we can help your organization take advantage of the IIJA opportunities.
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