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. (Some government establishments do the same work and employ a significant number of people, but information about them is not included in this statement. Information concerning government construction is included in the statements on Federal Government and State and local government, except education and health, elsewhere in the Career Guide to Industries.)
Nature of the Industry
The construction industry is divided into three major segments. Construction of buildings contractors, or general contractors, build residential, industrial, commercial, and other buildings. Heavy and civil engineering construction contractors build sewers, roads, highways, bridges, tunnels, and other projects. Specialty 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 specialty trade contractors.
Specialty 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, specialty trade contractors have no responsibility for the structure as a whole. They obtain orders for their work from general contractors, architects, or property owners. Repairwork is almost always done on direct order from owners, occupants, architects, or rental agents.
Working Conditions
Most employees in this industry work full time, and many work over 40 hours a week. In 2002, about 1 in 5 construction workers worked 45 hours or more 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 are workers in other jobs. In 2002, cases of work-related injury and illness were 7.1 per 100 full-time construction workers, which is significantly higher than the 5.3 rate for the entire private sector. Workers who do roofing, siding, and sheet metal work 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 hardhats, and sometimes devices to protect their eyes, mouth, or hearing.
SIGNIFICANT POINTS
Job opportunities are expected to be excellent for experienced workers.
Workers in construction have relatively high hourly earnings.
More than 4 out of 5 establishments in the industry employ fewer than 10 people.
Construction has a very large number of self-employed workers.
Employment
Construction, with 6.7 million wage and salary jobs and 1.6 million self-employed and unpaid family nongovernment jobs in 2002, was one of the Nation's largest industries.
Almost 2 out of 3 wage and salary jobs were with specialty trade contractors, primarily plumbing, electrical, and masonry contractors. Around 1 out of 4 jobs were with building contractors, mostly in residential and nonresidential construction. The rest were with heavy and civil engineering 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 heavily populated areas.
There were about 792,000 construction companies in the United States in 2002: 237,000 were building construction contractors; 60,000 were heavy and civil engineering construction or highway contractors; and 496,000 were specialty trade contractors. Most of these establishments tend to be small, the majority employing fewer than 10 workers (chart 1). About 4 out of 5 workers are employed by these 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 2002 performed work directly for property owners or acted as contractors on small jobs, such as additions, remodeling, and maintenance projects. The rate of self-employment varies greatlyby individual occupation in the construction trades (chart 2).
Table 1. Distribution of wage and salary employment in construction by industry, 2002 (Employment in thousands)
Industry
Employment
Percent
Total, all industries
6,731.7
100.0
Construction of Buildings
1,583.8
23.5
Residential building
807.4
12.0
Nonresidential building construction
776.4
11.5
Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
930.0
13.8
Utility system construction
380.5
5.7
Highway, street, and bridge construction
344.4
5.1
Land subdivision
86.1
1.3
Other heavy and civil engineering construction
119.0
1.8
Special trade contractors
4,217.9
62.7
Building equipment contractors
1,842.5
27.4
Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors
Construction offers a great variety of career opportunities. People with many different talents and educational backgrounds-managers, clerical workers, skilled craftsworkers, semiskilled workers, and laborers-find job opportunities in the construction industry (table 2).
Table 2. Employment of wage and salary workers in construction by occupation, 2002 and projected change, 2002-12 (Employment in thousands)
Occupation
Employment, 2002
Percent change,2002- 2012
Number
Percent
All occupations
6,732
100.0
15.1
Management, business, and financial occupations
576
8.6
14.5
Top executives
181
2.7
13.2
Construction managers
166
2.5
13.1
Cost estimators
100
1.5
19.6
Professional and related occupations
101
1.5
12.5
Architecture and engineering occupations
79
1.2
11.3
Sales and related occupations
127
1.9
13.0
Office and administrative support occupations
620
9.2
-0.2
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
125
1.9
1.9
Secretaries and administrative assistants
204
3.0
-5.1
Office clerks, general
123
1.8
1.4
Construction and extraction occupations
4,456
66.2
17.0
First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers
378
5.6
14.4
Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons
111
1.6
17.4
Carpenters
685
10.2
14.2
Carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers
70
1.0
16.8
Cement masons, concrete finishers, and terrazzo workers
163
2.4
25.5
Construction laborers
675
10.0
13.2
Construction equipment operators
253
3.8
11.2
Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers
139
2.1
24.3
Electricians
430
6.4
27.3
Painters and paperhangers
194
2.9
14.7
Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
380
5.7
22.5
Roofers
108
1.6
18.8
Sheet metal workers
134
2.0
22.8
Helpers, construction trades
390
5.8
12.3
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
434
6.5
23.1
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
114
1.7
37.5
Industrial machinery installation, repair, and maintenance workers
82
1.2
17.0
Production occupations
105
1.6
11.5
Transportation and material moving occupations
250
3.7
10.9
Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer
97
1.4
14.5
Material moving occupations
118
1.8
7.7
NOTE: May not add to totals due to omission of occupations with small employment.
Most of the workers in construction are skilled craftsworkers 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; brickmasons, blockmasons, 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 pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, 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 prevent further contamination of natural resources and to promote public health and safety.
The greatest numbers of construction craftsworkers are 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 occupations-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 an experienced craftworker, and 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 with 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 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 who are 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 that 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 architect's plans, making sure materials are delivered on time, assigning work, overseeing craft supervisors, and ensuring that 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.
Table 3. Percent of wage and salary workers in construction craft occupations employed in the construction industry, 2002
Occupation
Percent
Plasterers and stucco masons
87.6
Cement masons, concrete finishers, segmental workers, and terrazzo workers
86.5
Structural and reinforcing iron and metal workers
84.2
Insulation workers
82.5
Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers
78.8
Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
69.2
Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons
67.1
Electricians
65.2
Roofers
64.9
Glaziers
64.5
Carpenters
56.7
Carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers
42.5
Painters and paperhangers
41.5
Training and Advancement
Persons may enter most jobs in the construction industry without any formal classroom training after high school. Most skilled craft jobs require proficiency in reading and mathematics. Safety training is required for most jobs. Some laborers can learn their job in a few days, but the skills required for many jobs are substantial; they can be learned through apprenticeships or other employer-provided training programs. 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 with 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 skilled 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 each year. 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. In order to advance to a management position, additional education and training is recommended.
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' 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. Taking courses in business helps to improve the likelihood of success.
Earnings
Earnings in construction are significantly higher than the average for all industries (table 4). In 2002, production or nonsupervisory workers in construction averaged $18.51 an hour, or about $712 a week. Average earnings of workers in the specialty trade contractors segment were somewhat higher than those of workers employed by building or heavy and civil engineering 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 are often affected by poor weather. Heavy rain may slow or even stop work on a construction project. Traditionally, winter is the slack period for construction activity, especially in colder parts of the country, but there is a trend toward more year-round construction even in colder areas. Because construction trades are dependent on one another-especially on large projects-work delays in one trade delay or stop work in another. Earnings in selected occupations in construction in 2002 appear in table 5.
Table 4. Average earnings of nonsupervisory workers in construction, 2002
Industry segment
Weekly
Hourly
Total, private industry
$506
$14.95
Construction industry
712
18.51
Construction of buildings
676
17.74
Industrial building
779
18.77
Nonresidential building
755
19.16
Commercial building
746
19.31
Residential building
597
16.24
Heavy and civil engineering construction
754
18.00
Highway, street, and bridge construction
813
19.16
Other heavy construction
780
18.13
Specialty trade contractors
715
18.91
Electrical contractors
816
20.75
Plumbing and HVAC contractors
781
19.93
Flooring contractors
688
18.46
Building finishing contractors
645
17.72
Masonry contractors
643
18.65
Painting and wall covering contractors
596
16.49
Roofing contractors
591
16.61
About 19 percent of construction trades workers were union members or covered by union contracts, compared with about 15 percent of workers throughout private industry. Many different unions represent the various construction trades and form joint apprenticeship committees with local employers to supervise apprenticeship programs.
Table 5. Median hourly earnings of the largest occupations in construction, 2002
Occupation
Construction of buildings
Heavy and civil engineering construction
Specialty trade contractors
All industries
General and operations managers
$35.36
$38.16
$33.98
$32.80
Construction managers
30.49
30.83
29.94
30.53
First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers
23.38
22.88
22.80
22.92
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
19.44
18.18
19.43
19.31
Carpenters
16.78
18.38
16.67
16.44
Insulation workers
16.50
13.60
13.57
13.91
Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer
14.99
14.40
14.45
15.97
Painters, construction and maintenance
14.11
13.85
14.00
13.98
Construction laborers
12.15
12.66
11.97
11.90
Helpers--electricians
11.09
11.64
11.03
11.10
Outlook
Job opportunities are expected to be excellent in the construction industry, especially for workers with training and experience in construction occupations, due largely to the numerous openings arising each year as experienced construction workers leave their 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 15 percent through the year 2012, compared with the 16 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 is expected to grow in nonresidential construction because 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 homes, 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 and civil engineering construction is projected to increase due to growth in highway, bridge, and street construction, as well as in maintenance and repairs to prevent further deterioration of the Nation's highways and bridges.
Employment in specialty trades contracting, the largest segment of the industry, should grow as demand for contractors in building and heavy construction rises and as more workers are 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 demand from 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 who have a bachelor's degree in construction science with an emphasis on construction management, and who acquire work experience in construction management services firms, should enjoy an especially favorable job outlook. Employment growth of administrative support occupations will be limited by increased office automation.
Although employment in construction trades as a whole is expected to grow about as fast as the industry average, the rate of growth will vary by trade. Employment of cement masons, concrete finishers, segmental pavers, and terrazzo workers; electricians; 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 increases in employment demand as construction activity grows. On the other hand, employment of construction equipment operators; construction laborers; and boilermakers is expected to grow more slowly than that of the construction industry as a whole because greater use of new equipment will make workers more efficient.
Sources of Additional Information
Information about apprenticeships and training can be obtained from local construction firms and employer associations, the local office of the State employment service or apprenticeship agency, or the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, U.S. Department of Labor.
There are more than 500 occupations registered by the U.S. Department of Labor's National Apprenticeship system. For more information on the Labor Department's registered apprenticeship system and links to State apprenticeship programs, check their website: http://www.doleta.gov
Additional information on occupations in construction may be found in the 2004-05 edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook:
Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons
Carpenters
Carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers
Cement masons, concrete finishers, segmental pavers, and terrazzo workers
Construction and building inspectors
Construction equipment operators
Construction laborers
Construction managers
Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers
Electricians
Elevator installers and repairers
Glaziers
Hazardous materials removal workers
Heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
Insulation workers
Material-moving occupations
painters and paperhangers
Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
