Construction makes a huge contribution to constructing infrastructure, residential, and commercial buildings. It is, in many ways, the most 'fundamental' sector—meaning almost everybody else depends on it; developments in construction directly impact other sectors in the economy. A career in construction can definitely be rewarding, offering good room for growth, the development of a variety of skills, and solid financial security. But working in construction—being in it, managing it, or leading it—requires a real understanding of the industry and its many facets.
It can be simple to enter the construction field, but it often necessitates a combination of education, training, and valuable hands-on experience. The first step for anyone wishing to enter the construction world is to take a good, hard look at their interests and skills. It is true that many jobs in construction do not require a four-year degree; however, what is practically always required is a high school diploma or equivalent. One effective and traditional way to enter the industry is by seeking out entry-level positions, like laborer or apprentice. The almost dozen jobs you perform while working as a laborer will give you a good taste of the various trades you might go into—practical experience that could be your ticket to a better life.
Furthermore, gaining pertinent certifications may boost one's chances of getting hired. Certifications in subjects like OSHA safety training, first aid, or particular trade skills can heighten a candidate's allure in the eyes of potential employers. Another way to make oneself more marketable is to network within the industry—be it through job fairs, trade schools, or local unions—to unearth job leads.
The work of construction management has been aptly described as the art and science of getting things done. A construction project manager must simultaneously be a leader, a planner, a problem solver, and a negotiator. Most essential, a construction manager must possess the ability to see the big picture and yet pay close attention to the myriad details that make up a construction project. The responsibilities of project managers tend to expand and contract depending on the size and the complexity of the project. For a simple, small-scale construction project, a construction manager is responsible for quite a lot. But a project manager also has project superintendent staff and site foremen staff to help him or her complete those aforementioned tasks when the project is larger in scale.
Construction managers can expect to work long hours—frequently stretching well beyond the typical 40-hour workweek. The combination of tight project deadlines, naturally occurring (or hydraulically induced, as some experts insist) evening and weekend hours, and the potential for certain types of projects (like repair work after a storm) to require a construction manager's undivided attention can conjoin to form a demanding work schedule. On the other hand, many construction managers relish the opportunity to helm their teams, seeing the sunset of a finished project as quite a rewarding experience.
The work hours for construction laborers can be very different depending on the specific details of a given project—its sort and location, for instance, or its stage in the seasonal construction cycle. Construction generally offers full-time steady labor to a worker, but within that classification, there is significant variance. Most construction workers clock in anywhere from 40 to 50 hours a week, but many laborers accomplish much more. As part of this efficiency, the construction trades typically rise before the sun and perform most of their work in daylight; when they do work at night, it’s generally for some kind of urban project that’s too disruptive to both local traffic and local businesses if it’s done during peak hours.
Construction is a physically demanding field. Workers may experience fatigue from the long hours and the strenuous nature of the tasks undertaken. As a result, labor unions and professional organizations often advocate for the construction workforce to ensure that workers are not overburdened and that the working environment is safe. Whether or not one considers a construction career to be a worth-it proposition depends on various forces: personal interests, metrics of fulfillment, and the dollars and cents of the situation. The situation does not pin down all construction workers to low salaries.
In addition, the construction industry is synonymous with job security. As long as new construction and renovations are needed, the call will remain for knowledgeable workers, and in a case where society is always itself under construction, such a scenario stands to reason. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted that the construction workforce will grow by 4 percent over the next 10 years, which is right in line with the average for all career fields. And with expansion in sector subcategories such as structural iron and steel work (8 percent), solar panel installation (20 percent), and construction projects that are part of the movement toward more sustainable practices (which also call for more knowledgeable workers), some trades offer better job prospects than others.
The construction industry can be a promising career move for individuals who have the necessary construction skills. Yet, it is a fact that the work is not for everyone. The physical toll taken on the bodies of construction workers can lead to health problems and injuries, especially when safety protocols are not followed. It also is a fact that construction is one of the most dangerous industries in which to work. The topsy-turvy nature of construction work, where workers may be laid off if a project runs into trouble or if the economy takes a downturn, also creates a climate of insecurity that can drive some individuals to pursue opportunities in other fields. Nonetheless, for those willing to brave the hazards and the uncertainty of the construction life, a workday often is filled with the satisfaction of having created something new, following almost directly after the divine command to "go forth and multiply."