4 of the top misconceptions in the construction industry are examined by CEG blogger Megan Wild.
There is an eclectic range of jobs in construction, with a good salary for both those just starting and those with experience who are looking for more.
There are a number of misconceptions about the construction industry today. Despite being a highly skilled trade that's growing increasingly diverse and presenting an abundance of advancement opportunities, some often think of construction as a male-dominated industry with little room to move higher up the chain. Let's explore these and other misconceptions about construction.
It's Exclusively for Men
Although the construction industry is filled predominantly with males, the number of females in the industry continues to grow. From 1985 to 2007 there was an 81.3 percent increase in the number of women employed in construction. Women continue to serve pivotal roles in the administrative, professional, production and managerial fields of the industry especially.
More specific areas of construction have seen even more women lead in the field. Women comprise 18 percent of architect and 17.5 percent of civil, architectural and sanitary engineer. While males still make up the vast majority of workers in these fields, the number of women continues to grow. Excelling in the construction industry isn't gender-based. The skills sought after include endurance, agility, quick thinking, coordination and balance, all attributes non-specific to a certain gender.
The Workforce Is Uneducated
The construction industry is filled with mentally demanding tasks that require a good degree of education and sense. The construction workforce is generally highly educated, especially in regard to their field, with many construction employers aiding in a recognized development graduate program. When you consider many construction sites are dealing with multi-million dollar projects, there's little doubt those with pivotal roles are educated.
One reason the construction industry's workforce continues to become more educated each year is the willingness of employers to sponsor undergraduates while they pursue a degree or accreditation. For example, McAllister CAT provides great benefits to employees, including tuition reimbursement and profit sharing.
Compared to many cutthroat industries that treat employees like numbers, rather than individuals full of passion and potential, the construction industry clearly values education — often to the point of employers paying out of pocket to ensure a future employee receives training.
The Industry Isn't Lucrative
The construction industry offers many high-earning opportunities. A number of positions and niches have significant salaries, well above the average. Elevator installers and repairers, for example, make an average of $80,870 per year.
Similarly, there are fairly accessible and frequently open positions like a construction equipment who makes an average of $43,810 per year, with on-the-job training or a vocational school often being the only requirements. This is a good salary for an entry-level position no matter the field, especially for someone who opts to pursue the trade instead of dealing with university-related student debt for decades. Many recent graduates with a college degree struggle to find a reliable position with a similar salary that has room to rise up the ladder.
Like any other industry, there is also always room for advancement. Construction businesses are full of positions, including the administrative, professional, production and managerial fields. Showing dedication and good work on a construction site can open up other opportunities, from being a construction site manager to working on the management side. There is an eclectic range of jobs in construction, with a good salary for both those just starting and those with experience who are looking for more.
A Construction Job Can't Lead to Other Careers
Apprenticeships are a fairly common practice in the construction industry, with construction businesses investing monetarily in those who truly show commitment and potential. This type of scenario is mutually beneficial. For the worker, it provides a source of financial support, especially for a costly thing like school. For the employer, it builds a level of trust and dedication, with the ultimate goal of grooming the employee for long-term success and loyalty within the company. Advancement is a mutually beneficial interest as a result.
In careers beyond the industry, the skills acquired and utilized while working in construction can glow on a resume. On-site planning, collaboration, endurance, protocol abidance and quick thinking are all characteristics a successful construction worker can tout. These are all appealing aspects to an employer, no matter their niche. Excelling in the construction industry shows someone as a hard and dedicated worker with a plethora of ability.
The growing nature of the construction industry is quashing these misconceptions, clearly.— CEG Blogger
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