Construction Jobs

Are you good with tools? Do you hate the idea of working at a desk all day? Would you rather be hammering and sawing, or driving around a bulldozer? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then construction jobs might be right for you.

Construction job market - Even in a bad economy, construction jobs are going strong. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of wage and salary jobs in the construction industry is expected to grow 10 percent through the year 2016.

And while the recession has slowed new building in some areas, other construction areas have increased or stayed the same. But instead of building million-dollar housing developments in the suburbs, construction workers are needed to build new schools, rapid public transit systems, better roads, "green" offices and shopping centers, and more public housing.

Training - In the white-collar business world, education and networking will help you get a good job. In the blue-collar construction world, you gotta have some serious skills! Most construction jobs offer on-the-job training beginning at the entry level. While some programs offer construction courses, most workers learn the trade over time by apprenticing within the company.

Many construction workers begin out of high school as laborers, helpers, or apprentices. Going to a training or trade school will help you learn new skills if you don't have access to apprenticeship, or if you're looking to branch out.

Types of construction jobs - Most construction workers are called "construction trades workers." This includes master, journeyman, and apprentice craft workers, as well as construction managers and construction laborers. Within these titles, most people work as structural, finishing, or mechanical workers.

A large percentage of construction workers are self-employed independent contractors, while others work as part of a team in heavy and civil engineering construction (building sewers, highways, etc.). Most construction teams are relatively small - about 65 percent of construction businesses employ fewer than five people - and hire subcontractors for more specialized jobs.

Construction jobs will always be in demand, though the level of demand often runs in cycles based on the economy and local budgetary needs. For this reason, successful contractors learn multiple trades within the industry so they can weather changes in construction demand.