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The Construction Industry Today
Nature of the Industry
Houses, apartments, factories, offices, schools, roads, and bridges
are only some of the products of the construction industry. This
industry's activities include work on new structures as well as
additions, alterations, and repairs to existing ones.
The construction industry is divided into three major segments:
General building contractors, heavy construction contractors, and
special trade contractors. General building contractors build residential,
industrial, commercial, and other buildings. Heavy construction
contractors build sewers, roads, highways, bridges, tunnels, and
other projects. Special trade contractors are engaged in specialized
activities such as carpentry, painting, plumbing, and electrical
work.
Construction usually is done or coordinated by general contractors,
who specialize in one type of construction such as residential
or commercial building. They take full responsibility for the complete
job, except for specified portions of the work that may be omitted
from the general contract. Although general contractors may do
a portion of the work with their own crews, they often subcontract
most of the work to heavy construction or special trade contractors.
Special trade contractors usually do the work of only one trade,
such as painting, carpentry, or electrical work, or of two or more
closely related trades, such as plumbing and heating. Beyond fitting
their work to that of the other trades, special trade contractors
have no responsibility for the structure as a whole. They obtain
orders for their work from general contractors, architects, or
property owners. Repair work is almost always done on direct order
from owners, occupants, architects, or rental agents.
Working Conditions
Most employees in this industry work full time, many over 40
hours a week. In 2000, about 1 in 4 construction workers worked
45 hours or more a week; a large proportion of self-employed individuals
also worked over 45 hours a week. Construction workers may sometimes
work evenings, weekends, and holidays to finish a job or take care
of an emergency. Workers in this industry need physical stamina
because the work frequently requires prolonged standing, bending,
stooping, and working in cramped quarters. They also may be required
to lift and carry heavy objects. Exposure to weather is common
because much of the work is done outside or in partially enclosed
structures. Construction workers often work with potentially dangerous
tools and equipment amidst a clutter of building materials; some
work on temporary scaffolding or at great heights and in bad weather.
Consequently, they are more prone to injuries than workers in other
jobs. In 1999, cases of work-related injury and illness were 8.6
per 100 full-time workers, which is significantly higher than the
6.3 rate for the entire private sector. Workers who do roofing,
masonry, stonework, and plastering experienced the highest injury
rates.
In response, employers increasingly emphasize safe working conditions
and work habits that reduce the risk of injuries. To avoid injury,
employees wear safety clothing, such as gloves and hard hats, and
sometimes devices to protect their eyes, mouth, or hearing.
Employment
Construction, with 6.7 million wage and salary and 1.6 million
self-employed and unpaid family non-government jobs in 2000, was
one of the Nation's largest industries.
More than 3 out of 5 wage and salary jobs were with special trade
contractors, primarily plumbing, electrical, and masonry contractors.
More than 1 out of 5 jobs were with general building contractors,
mostly in residential and nonresidential construction. The rest
were with road and other heavy construction contractors (table
1). Employment in this industry is distributed geographically in
much the same way as the Nation's population; the concentration
of employment is generally in industrialized and highly populated
areas.
There were about 667,000 construction companies in the United
States in 1997: 197,091 were general contractors and operative
builders; 37,701 were heavy construction or highway contractors;
and 431,877 were specialty trade contractors. Most of these establishments
tend to be small, the majority employing fewer than 10 workers
(chart 1). About 8 out of 10 workers are employed by small contractors.
Construction offers more opportunities than most other industries
for individuals who want to own and run their own business. The
1.6 million self-employed and unpaid family workers in 2000 performed
work directly for property owners or acted as contractors on small
jobs, such as additions, remodeling, and maintenance projects.
The large majority of the self-employed work in the construction
trades. The rate of self-employment varies greatly by individual
occupation in the construction trades.
Occupations in the Industry
Work in construction offers a great variety of career opportunities.
Most of the workers in construction are skilled crafts workers
or laborers, helpers, and apprentices who assist the more skilled
workers. Most construction workers generally are classified as
either structural, finishing, or mechanical workers. Structural
workers include carpenters; construction equipment operators; brick
masons, block masons, and stonemasons; cement masons and concrete
finishers; and structural and reinforcing iron and metal workers.
Finishing workers include carpenters; drywall installers, ceiling
tile installers, and tapers; plasterers and stucco masons; segmental
pavers; terrazzo workers; painters and paperhangers; glaziers;
roofers; carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers; and
insulation workers. Mechanical workers include pipe layers, plumbers,
pipe fitters, and steamfitters; electricians; sheet metal workers,
and heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and
installers. Other workers, called hazardous materials removal workers
remove hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead, and radioactive
and nuclear materials from buildings, facilities, and the environment
to avoid further contamination of natural resources and to promote
public health and safety.
The greatest number of construction crafts workers work as carpenters;
electricians; pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters;
construction equipment operators; painters and paperhangers; sheet
metal workers; drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and
tapers; cement masons, concrete finishers, segmental pavers, and
terrazzo workers; brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons; and
roofers. The construction industry employs nearly all of the workers
in some construction craft occupation such as plasterers and stucco
masons; roofers; structural and reinforcing iron and metal workers;
and drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers. In
other construction craft occupations for example, electricians,
painters and paperhangers; plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters;
and carpet floor, and tile installers and finishers large numbers
also work in other industries (table 3). Other industries employing
large numbers of construction workers include transportation equipment
manufacturing, transportation, communication and utilities, real
estate, wholesale and retail trade, educational services, and State
and local government.
Many persons enter the construction crafts through apprenticeship
programs. These programs offer on-the-job training under the close
supervision of a craft worker, as well as some formal classroom
instruction. Depending on the trade, apprentices learn a variety
of skills, ranging from laying brick to putting together steel
beams.
Many persons advance to construction craft occupations from related,
less skilled jobs as helpers or laborers. They acquire skills while
they work. They are first hired as laborers or helpers, performing
a variety of unskilled tasks and providing much of the routine
physical labor needed in construction. They erect and dismantle
scaffolding, clean up debris, help unload and carry materials and
machinery, and operate simple equipment. They work alongside experienced
craftworkers, learning the basic skills of a particular craft.
After acquiring experience and skill in various phases of the craft,
they may become skilled journey level craftworkers.
To develop their skills further after training, construction craftworkers
may work on many different projects, such as housing developments,
office and industrial buildings, or highways, bridges, and dams.
Flexibility and a willingness to adopt new techniques, as well
as the ability to get along with people, are essential for advancement.
Those skilled in all facets of the trade and who show good leadership
qualities may be promoted to supervisor. As supervisors, they oversee
craftworkers and helpers and ensure work is done well. They plan
the job and solve problems as they arise. Those with good organizational
skills and exceptional supervisory ability may advance to superintendent.
Superintendents are responsible for getting a project completed
on schedule by working with the architects plans, making sure materials
are delivered on time, assigning work, overseeing craft supervisors,
and making sure every phase of the project is completed properly
and expeditiously. They also resolve problems and see to it that
work proceeds without interruptions. Superintendents may advance
to large projects as general managers and top executives. Some
go into business for themselves as contractors.
Training & Advancement
Persons may enter most jobs in the construction industry without
any formal classroom training after high school. Laborers can learn
their job in a few days, but the skills required for many jobs
are substantial; they can be learned on the job or through apprenticeships.
Skilled workers such as carpenters, bricklayers, plumbers, and
other construction trade specialists need either several years
of informal on-the-job experience, or apprenticeship training.
Workers pick up skills by working alongside more experienced workers,
and through instruction provided by their employers. As they demonstrate
their ability to perform tasks they are assigned, they move to
progressively more challenging work. As they broaden their skills,
they are allowed to work more independently, and responsibilities
and earnings increase. They may qualify for jobs in related, more
highly skilled, occupations. For example, after several years of
experience, painters' helpers may become journey level painters.
Apprenticeships administered by local employers, trade associations,
and trade unions provide the most thorough training. Apprenticeships
usually last between 3 and 5 years and consist of on-the-job training
and 144 hours or more of related classroom instruction. However,
a number of apprenticeship programs are now using competency standards
in place of time requirements, making it possible to complete a
program in a shorter time. Those who enroll in apprenticeship programs
usually are least 18 years old and in good physical condition.
Persons can enter the construction industry with a variety of
educational backgrounds. Those entering construction right out
of high school start as laborers, helpers, or apprentices. Those
who enter construction from technical or vocational schools also
may go through apprenticeship training; however, they progress
at a somewhat faster pace because they already have had courses
such as mathematics, mechanical drawing, and woodworking. Skilled
craftworkers may advance to supervisor or superintendent positions,
or may transfer to jobs such as construction building inspector,
purchasing agent, sales representative for building supply companies,
contractor, or technical or vocational school instructor.
Managerial personnel usually have a college degree or considerable
experience in their specialty. Individuals who enter construction
with college degrees usually start as management trainees or construction
managers and assistants. Those who receive degrees in construction
science often start as field engineers, schedulers, or cost estimators.
College graduates may advance to positions such as assistant manager,
construction manager, general superintendent, cost estimator, construction
building inspector, general manager or top executive, contractor,
or consultant. Although a college education is not always required,
administrative jobs usually are filled by people with degrees in
business administration, finance, accounting, or similar fields.
Opportunities for workers to form their own firms are better in
construction than in many other industries. Construction workers
need only a moderate financial investment to become contractors
and they can run their businesses from their homes, hiring additional
construction workers only as needed for specific projects. The
contract construction field, however, is very competitive, and
the rate of business failure is high.
Job Outlook
Job opportunities are expected to be excellent in the construction
industry, due largely to the numerous openings arising each year
from experienced construction workers who leave jobs. Further,
many potential workers may prefer work that is less strenuous and
has more comfortable working conditions. The continued shortage
of adequate training programs also will contribute to the favorable
job market.
The number of wage and salary jobs in the construction industry
is expected to grow about 12 percent through the year 2010, compared
with 15 percent projected for all industries combined. Employment
in this industry depends primarily on the level of construction
and remodeling activity. New construction is usually cut back during
periods when the economy is not expanding, and the number of job
openings in construction fluctuates greatly from year to year.
Employment growth in the various segments of the construction industry
varies somewhat, depending on the demand for various types of construction.
At times, there may be a high demand for new office space or housing,
for example, but lower demand for road construction or remodeling
work.
Although household growth may slow slightly over the coming decade,
the demand for residential construction is expected to continue
to grow. The demand for larger homes with more amenities, as well
as for second homes, will continue to rise, especially as the baby
boomers reach their peak earning years and can afford to spend
more on housing. Some older, more affluent baby boomers will want
townhouses and condominiums in conveniently located suburban and
urban settings. At the same time, as the number of immigrants increases
and as the "echo boomers" (the children of the baby boomers)
start to replace the smaller "baby bust" generation in
the young adult age groups, the demand for manufactured housing,
starter homes, and rental apartments also is expected to increase.
Employment in nonresidential construction is expected to grow
a little faster than the rest of the industry because industrial
construction activity is expected to be stronger as replacement
of many industrial plants has been delayed for years, and a large
number of structures will have to be replaced or remodeled. Construction
of nursing, convalescent homes, and other extended care institutions
also will increase due to the aging of the population, the growing
use of high-technology medical treatment facilities, and the need
for more drug treatment clinics. Construction of schools will increase
to accommodate the children of the baby boom generation.
Employment in heavy construction is projected to increase about
as fast as the industry average. Growth is expected in highway,
bridge, and street construction, as well as in repairs to prevent
further deterioration of the Nation's highways and bridges. Poor
highway conditions also will result in increased demand for highway
maintenance and repair.
Employment in special trades contracting, the largest segment
of the industry, should grow at about the same rate as the entire
construction industry. Demand for special trades subcontractors
in building and heavy construction is rising, and, at the same
time, more workers will be needed to repair and remodel existing
homes. Home improvement and repair construction is expected to
continue to grow faster than new home construction. Remodeling
should be the fastest growing sector of the housing industry because
of a growing stock of old residential and nonresidential buildings.
Many starter units will be remodeled to appeal to more affluent,
space- and amenity- hungry buyers. Also, some of the trade-up market
may result in remodeling and additions rather than the construction
of new, larger homes. Remodeling tends to be more labor-intensive
than new construction.
Employment growth will differ among various occupations in the
construction industry. Employment of construction managers is expected
to grow as a result of advances in building materials and construction
methods, as well as a proliferation of laws dealing with building
construction, worker safety, and environmental issues. Construction
managers with a bachelors degree in construction science with an
emphasis on construction management, and who acquire work experience
in construction management services firms, should have an especially
favorable job outlook. Little change in the employment of administrative
support occupations is expected due to increased office automation.
Although employment in construction trades is expected to grow
about as fast as the industry average, the rate of growth will
vary among the various trades. Employment of brickmasons, blockmasons,
and stonemasons; electricians; glaziers; sheet metal workers; and
heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
should grow faster than the industry average because technological
changes are not expected to offset employment demand as construction
activity grows. Employment of carpenters; carpet, floor, and tile
installers and finishers; and cement masons, concrete finishers,
segmental pavers, and terrazzo workers is expected to grow more
slowly than the construction industry as a whole because the demand
for these workers is expected to be offset by a greater use of
new materials and equipment. For example, increasing use of prefabricated
components in residential construction is expected to reduce the
demand for carpenters.
Earnings
Earnings in construction are significantly higher than the average
for all industries (table 4). In 2000, production or non-supervisory
workers in construction averaged $17.86 an hour, or about $702
a week. Average earnings of workers in the special trade contractors
segment were somewhat higher than those of workers employed by
building or heavy construction contractors.
Earnings of workers in the construction industry vary by the education
and experience of the worker, type of work, the size and nature
of the construction project, geographic location, and economic
conditions. Earnings of construction trade workers also are often
affected by poor weather. Traditionally, winter is the slack period
for construction activity, especially in colder parts of the country.
Some workers, such as laborers or roofers, may not work for several
months. Heavy rain also may slow or even stop work on a construction
project. Because construction trades are dependent on one another
especially on large projects work delays in one trade delay or
stop work in another.
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics
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