Construction work is often physically challenging.
More than 7.2 million Americans worked in construction fields, including painting, in 2008. Just under 200,000 additional jobs in non-construction paint fields employed workers that same year. As buildings age and the population grows, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects employment to increase in these fields. Construction companies require administrative workers as well as physical labor, so there are opportunities for people with a variety of skills and abilities.
Types
Buildings are just one portion of the construction industry. Construction workers also build roads, bridges, parks and other structures. The industry employs engineers, woodworkers, metalworkers, masonry and concrete specialists, boilermakers and heavy equipment drivers. Electricians, flooring and drywall installers and heating/ventilation workers are also part of the industry. Painters within the construction industry may work on residential, commercial or roadway paint. Outside the main construction industry, painters and coatings specialists paint or apply coatings to cars, toys and other commercial products.
Work Environment
A workday on a construction site includes loud noise, inclement weather and long hours of physical labor, including lifting, bending and carrying. Dust and fumes are common hazards, especially among drywall and paint workers. Workdays may start early for residential and commercial building projects to take advantage of the daylight hours. Road construction workers often work nights and weekends to keep projects to low traffic times. Many construction workers are independent contractors, particularly in the paint and project management portions of the industry. This can add some schedule flexibility, but contractors must coordinate schedules with the rest of the crews to ensure projects proceed on schedule.
Training
Trade or technical college is a common entry point into the construction industry, followed by an apprenticeship with experienced workers. Most subsections of the construction industry have a dedicated guild, trade organization or union, and these organizations can help prospective workers find information on their chosen fields.
Wages
Pay varies according to the specific branch of the construction industry. The overall average wage for the industry is $21.87 per hour. Managers average $38.39 for all construction industries, while carpenters average $18.72, and painters make $15.85. General construction laborers receive the lowest average income at $13.81. Workers in heavy engineering construction average higher wages than those in building construction, and union workers receive more than their non-union counterparts.
Outlook
The BLS predicts the best employment opportunities will go to experienced workers and new entrants with excellent job histories as the construction industry grows approximately 19 percent between 2008 and 2018. Military service may also increase your prospects in this industry, which requires heavy physical labor and discipline.
Additional Opportunities
Certain construction workers, such as painters and wood and steel workers, can find employment in the entertainment industry. Films, videos and stage plays need skilled labor to construct and paint scenery. The skills and methods differ, but many skills transfer between the industries, providing another potential income source for those interested in construction-related fields.
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