Editorial Note: This article was brought to you courtesy of Rose Morrison, managing editor of Renovated.com.
People's first impression of a construction job is that it's laborious. It does involve getting your hands dirty most of the time, but people find their work as an electrician, carpenter or plumber rewarding because they positively impact the community.
Whether you're building a client's dream house or fixing a road, there's a sense of pride and contentment as you watch a design on paper blossoming into a home or infrastructure people use. Here are 12 benefits of a construction career.
Jobs in construction can be difficult to outsource, so workers can demand higher compensation based on their experience and expertise. A construction worker earns an average of $36 per hour, more than the entry-level rates of other industries.
Construction workers enjoy competitive salaries as most tasks are skills-based. Your pay will increase as you gain more experience and build your skills.
An average student borrows over $30,000 to get a bachelor's degree, which takes years to pay off.
Construction firms typically hire workers based on their skills and experience. You don't need a formal education to enter the industry. When you start as a laborer, you learn by doing tasks, assisting experienced workers and receiving guidance from them. If you decide to pursue a higher role — such as engineering or landscaping — or earn a certification for a more complex task — like finishing concrete or welding — you have savings to use for education.
Some companies may require at least a high school diploma for selected positions, such as helpers of electricians, pipefitters, plumbers and steamfitters. Getting into construction is easy if you're willing to learn and work hard.
A global workforce survey shows that 44% of employees would stay in their current workplace if offered to reskill and progress. Career growth drives employees, and this is precisely what construction provides in spades.
An apprenticeship provides boots-on-the-ground experience since you’ll work with engineers and contractors with years of experience. You get to learn directly from talented people to accelerate your career growth.
One big advantage of the construction industry is the dual-dimensional career path. You can climb up the ladder or move sideways and change roles within the organization. For example, you can switch to an HVAC role from an electrician. Jobs in this sector are flexible, so you could get an opportunity to assist workers specializing in a different area. Shifting roles is plausible.
Those who want to take their careers in a vertical direction can obtain certifications in specialized skills or a four-year degree.
Technology takes up 15% of the budget for constructing an office. The industry may be slow in adopting it, but building tech — an interdisciplinary field within construction — is revolutionary. It combines design, engineering and construction concepts to the art of building, ensuring structures are sustainable, efficient and safe.
Building information modeling (BIM) is a subdomain of building technology. It uses design and data to create digital representations that capture a facility's physical structure and functionalities. Besides BMI, robotics, 3D printing and green technology are currently used in construction. This tech streamlines and increases efficiency.
People use software to optimize workflows and resources on the management end. A construction management app provides a centralized hub for all workers to collaborate, communicate and complete project tasks more efficiently. It also helps managers deal with changes and maintain stability in the project amid unexpected situations.
Creativity gives life meaning. You'll gain abundant opportunities to nurture and convey your creative talents through work.
Whether it's a bridge, commercial building or a residence you're working on, every project needs a sketch, design, layout and specifications. You'll have chances to share your artistic ideas with engineers, architects or project managers to get the whole thing off the ground.
Creativity is behind every project breakthrough and why facilities are conceived in the real world.
Besides feeling a sense of pride and satisfaction, you'll find construction purposeful because you can make a difference in the world. With your skills, you can build a shelter, a workplace or a school for others to use. One study found that 70% of employees tie their sense of purpose with work.
What constitutes meaningfulness in a job? Engagement and value, growth opportunities, autonomy and a positive impact add meaning to a career. Each employee defines it differently, but one universal aspect is they make a difference with what they create.
Thousands of people benefit from construction employees’ creations. They ensure facilities are safe and can withstand people’s weight and natural disasters.
A typical office job can elevate your risk for various conditions, such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and deep-vein thrombosis. In contrast, a construction career is an active job. You'll be in the field and on your feet most of the time, promoting an active lifestyle.
The CDC recommends 150 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity. You'll lift, bend, stretch and twist when working on a project. You can incorporate fitness into your job. However, it’s vital to protect yourself while working on the site. Wear proper clothing with sun protection chemicals or sleeves and pants with special dyes that deflect UV light. Bring plenty of water and snacks.
A building project is a collaboration among various talents. A survey revealed that 69% of builders need 11 to 30 subcontractors to complete an average single-family home. People specializing in plumbing will work with electricians, pipefitters, roofers and painters and learn from them.
You'll get to work with a diverse team with different backgrounds and specializations, expanding your learning opportunities. It's a massive advantage that provides a unique job experience.
Working with others will also help you decide on a better career path. Whether you want to hop onto a different specialization or climb the ladder, observing other workers will give you an insight into the best career path.
You might get an opportunity to travel. New construction projects always pop up, and your firm could assign you to work across the country or even abroad. Large companies with simultaneous projects could have you building a house within your state and a commercial structure in another. The best thing is you receive compensation for time spent traveling between the company and the site.
AI and automation can displace jobs in many industries, but that’s unlikely to happen in general construction. Some occupations, such as operating engineers, have 88% potential for automation since the tasks are mostly repetitive. However, most construction tasks are unpredictable. Roofers, laborers and sheet metal workers have less than a 40% chance of having their jobs automated.
Construction jobs are stable as only some of them can be automated. The industry also has positions that are more recession-resilient. Regardless of the economic situation, there are employment opportunities for HVAC technicians, electricians and plumbers.
You can have a lifelong career by taking your growth in different directions. Moving up the ladder and advancing into management roles is one route. You can also pivot into other areas, such as health and safety, interior design, renovation or engineering. You can also start your own construction business.
New and diverse experiences contribute to happiness and aid in employee retention. People are wired to seek rewarding and varied experiences to enrich their lives.
Construction offers variety, an appealing feature if you want challenges at work. Every project has varying specs and categories. You could work on your specialty one minute and support an out-of-scope task the next. You'll do easy or complex projects or work on the frontlines or in the background.
A construction job is your best bet if you're looking for a career that won't bore you.
Employment in construction isn't exclusive to men. The industry has been called the "great equalizer" because benefits are accessible to all backgrounds and genders.
Women comprise 10.9% of the workforce, and more are entering the industry. Apart from the increasing number of female workers, the gender pay gap is also substantially minimal. Women make 95.5% of what men earn, a hallmark of an inclusive workplace. It's easier for women to advance their careers if the workplace supports it.
Construction provides a perfect balance of challenges and opportunities to keep you interested. It pays well even for those without a degree. It provides a platform for self-expression through art. You can take your career to the next level by climbing the ladder or expanding your skills to a different segment.
The industry is also slowly integrating technology into its processes. However, jobs will remain abundant as automation and software assist humans in an efficient building process.
Working in construction provides many benefits, and those who enter the field will have few regrets about doing so. They are building a future they can be proud of.
This is a guest post written by Rose Morrison, managing editor of Renovated.com.