Architecture and Construction career cluster
Architecture and Construction career cluster
The purpose of the construction industry is to build and maintain all kinds of structures, including homes, manufacturing plants, office buildings, streets and highways, sewers, irrigation projects, and more. The industry also includes related activities such as painting, electrical work, and plumbing.
What’s the role of the construction industry?
- A strong construction industry is often linked to broad economic growth in the country; a slowdown in the economy generally triggers a slowdown in construction.
- The retirement of large numbers of skilled trades workers in the next few years is projected to trigger many job openings.
- Many employers want to attract women and people of color to positions in the skilled trades, as they are currently often underrepresented on the job.
- Construction fields with the largest number of workers include construction laborers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, construction equipment operators, construction managers, painters, and cement masons.
Quick facts
Strong growth.
Over 7 million workers are employed in the industry with more than 800,000 new jobs expected in the next decade.
Safety first.
Safety equipment improvements are continuously under development to minimize the risk of injury for construction industry workers.
Innovations speed construction.
Builders increasingly use modular and prefabricated products to speed up project timelines dramatically.
Trend toward sustainability.
New eco materials are a key area of growth. Designing with sustainable materials and minimizing resource use is an industry trend.
Would a career in architecture and construction be a good fit for you?
- Full-time work schedules of 40 hours per week are pretty typical. Most projects operate on a deadline, and longer hours may sometimes be required.
- People who work in construction often say they prefer to work with their hands and have a variety of daily physical demands, rather than sit at a desk.
- Injuries are more common than in most industries: about 3% of workers each year have injuries or illness related to work.
- Many employers are open to hiring workers who have a criminal record.
- Workers may see the results of their efforts in projects and structures they’ve helped build—some that will last for many years.
What are some careers in architecture and construction?
Many in-demand construction careers have no formal education requirements or may be obtained with a high school diploma or equivalent. Skills in these fields are often gained through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship is a tradition in the construction industry, and it’s a great way to enter many fields—learning on the job while earning a paycheck. Employers, unions, and professional associations offer apprenticeship positions, and apprentices take classes and complete skill levels to earn wage increases that are negotiated in advance. Workers who have specialized skills in hands-on occupations are often referred to as “tradespeople.”
Check out some of these careers in architecture and construction at different levels of typical education requirements; most are currently in-demand: