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indemand connecting today s students with the careers of tomorrow issue 1 careers in construction a wealth of careers one million jobs will be added in construction by 2012 one of them could be yours!

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careervo yages career voyages provides information about career options that can help you choose your future and find education and training opportunities needed to get there visit careervoyages.gov to find links to job descriptions and job listings in your community.

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dear student do you like to draw or build things are you strong in mathematics or science and do you have fun with technology do you like to help others or enjoy running events in school or in your community and think you might be good at managing people one day no this isn t a class quiz but if you answered yes to any or all of these questions this publication is for you it will tell you all about the construction industry which might give you an idea for your future career it talks about what you need to learn and do to get that first great job whether you want to be an environmental engineer a skilled ironworker or manager of a skyscraper being built there are lots of careers in construction that pay well i m emily derocco assistant secretary of labor for employment and training and i run the federal agency that helps american workers find rewarding jobs and build successful careers since you will soon be part of the workforce the u.s department of labor s employment and training administration wants you to have this publication in demand-careers in construction it will let you know what this industry is all about and how you can build your future in it there s lots of great information in here please read it and share what you find with your parents teachers and guidance counselor they can help you find the right college or university to study for a construction career or the right apprentice program to gain skills and job experience so what s in demand you are your knowledge your energy your creativity and your skills are all in demand and so are the many high-growth jobs that you will learn more about in this publication also look for future copies of in demand that tell you about great careers in fields such as energy you and your friends could also visit the web site careervoyages.gov to get electronic copies of this magazine and to explore all kinds of careers the sky is the limit break new ground build your future assistant secretary derocco left talks construction with ace mentor students in st louis emily stover derocco assistant secretary of labor for employment and training in demand 1

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contents 4 how construction influences your life everything man-made has a construction connection the places where you live go to school and go out to eat all had to be constructed 6 opportunities the construction industry needs workers and pays well the u.s dept of labor estimates that one million new jobs will be added to the construction industry by 2012 construction industry profiles people join the industry in many ways and have a variety of jobs to pick from a few tell why they chose construction and what they hope for in their careers 10 11 12 14 18 architect carpenter contractor engineer electrical worker 19 20 21 22 23 estimator equipment operator ironworker marketing owner how it all fits together construction is a complicated process that starts with a project need moves to design by architects and engineers and construction by builders 2 www.careervoyages.gov

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indemand careers in construction u.s department of labor emily stover derocco gardner carrick katherine a allen dan austell rachel cowgill denise kennedy monte lutz the mcgraw-hill companies editor-in-chief janice l tuchman managing editors john j kosowatz william g krizan publication design shostak studios anna egger-schlesinger maritza c hurtado senior editors joann gonchar timothy j grogan debra k rubin tom sawyer writers anna antoniak housley carr pam hunter scott lewis carrie mcgourty tom nicholson lia steakley photo editor jackie dimitri editorial production agnes barbara b montalban-salvio virginia j camasca swati scindia government bus dev manager james kerr education advisors charlotte frank mcgraw-hill education cathy scruggs glencoe/mcgraw-hill manufacturing distribution michael vincent ted freedman kathy lavelle circulation maurice persiani financial director ike b chong associate publisher paul l bonington publisher mark kelly group editorial director robert ivy group publisher james h mcgraw iv published for the u.s department of labor by mcgraw-hill construction norbert w young jr faia president and glencoe/mcgraw-hill steven e mcclung president mcgraw-hill construction and glencoe are units of the mcgraw-hill companies indemand available on careervoyages.gov and construction.com 26 24 28 30 how technology has changed the construction industry references how to contact organizations that can help you get started in construction careers fun facts how high is the tallest building what s the longest bridge what s the biggest dump truck and more on job sites in architectural and engineering offices and in research labs young people are being drawn to the digital revolution calling all mentors the key to a successful career is to have caring people already in the industry showing you the ropes and opening doors to opportunity u.s department of labor indemand was written and produced by the mcgraw-hill companies under contract to the u.s department of labor employment and training administration no official endorsement by the u.s department of labor of any product group commodity service or enterprise mentioned in this magazine is intended or should be inferred cover illustration by ron chan

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construction influences by pam hunter how everything man-made has a construc your life houses trial plants or research laboratories the construction industry can build big like the empire state building or hoover dam it also can build small like a house in your neighborhood but large or small construction projects make a difference in the lives of people around them ext time you are outside take a look around all of the buildings that we work live and play in were built by construction industry professionals they also built the factories that make our cars the refineries that produce the gas to fuel them and the roads and bridges we drive on ditto for airports train stations cell-phone towers powerplants and schools there is very little in our world that is not affected in some way by construction construction is the second-largest industry in the nation employing about 7 million workers it contributes about 5 of all domestic u.s economic activity and accounts for nearly 10 of all businesses mostly small privately owned firms construction has been a part of people s lives since they first crawled out of caves many thousands of years ago they needed shelters and structures to shield themselves from the elements and slowly developed the tools and the techniques to build what was needed the industry has grown and changed tremendously over time today construction is not just about bricks and mortar and hammers and nails contractors use high-tech tools and machinery to build highly sophisticated facilities such as hospitals indus new ball game take for example the new sports arena for the charlotte bobcats in charlotte n.c the 780,000-sq-ft arena completed this fall is home to the nba s charlotte bobcats and the wnba s charlotte sting but buildings like this offer more people can see basketball games in the arena it seats more than 20,000 but it also offers a stage large enough for highways 4 www.careervoyages.gov photos by michael goodman

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tion connection offices stadiums starting over acts such as cold play tim mcgraw local high school basketball games and ice-skating performances such projects can transform entire neighborhoods san diegos petco park home to the padres has generated a construction boom in a neighborhood that previously had deteriorating buildings warehouses empty parking lots and little else it now is full of life with new restaurants nightclubs theaters and condominiums similar activity is taking place in other neighborhoods across the nation even works of art are constructed the new world war ii memorial in washington d.c is visited each year by thousands of veterans and tourists from around the world to learn about the war remember the sacrifices and reflect on the consequences and where there are such projects there is a need for bright talented people to fill the jobs at architecture and engineering firms and construction companies the future is bright government statistics show that construction is the only goods-producing industry that can expect to see employment growth in coming years to be able to walk through your town city or state and be able to say i built that is a rewarding and even awe-inspiring experience so the next time you take a walk look around without much effort you will see the results of a lot of hard work dedication and inspiration from the construction industry we don t realize how much construction touches our lives until a monster like hurricane katrina destroys everything in its path the storm wrecked 275,000 homes on the gulf coast whole towns suddenly were thrust under water and a way of life ended not only were homes and businesses destroyed but also facilities for drinking water wastewater power and communications nothing worked cleanup planning and rebuilding has started but it will take years to restore the region to a level that people would consider normal

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the construction industry per 6 www.careervoyages.gov

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fect time to start needs workers and it pays well ou ve picked the perfect time to think about a career in construction you know those moments a dive into a pool the swing of a bat a win in a heated xbox or playstation match when it all comes together that s what s happening now in the construction industry just look around your neighborhood along the highway or downtown there is a lot of construction work going on and not just new houses but new shopping centers office buildings and stadiums not to mention all the new roadwork the new sewage treatment plants and the airport terminal expansions on top of that the hurricanes of 2005 especially katrina caused billions of dollars in damage and require tens of thousands of reconstruction and new-construction projects all of that work is demanding a lot of workers architects and engineers to design what s being built project managers to oversee the construction laborers and skilled craftsmen­carpenters electricians and plumbers­to do the actual building overall the u.s department of labor estimates that one million new jobs will be added to the construction industry by 2012 luckily for you this country s building boom is happening at a time when there is a real shortage of construction workers and just like you pay more for a hot concert ticket construction companies pay photo at left terry lowenthal /bechtel corporation photo at right paul edmondson/getty images the by housley carr construction is searching for young workers to help it build the structures needed to keep america growing and strong more to find the scarce workers they need the need for new workers is so great that the construction industry itself is working with high schools community colleges and four-year colleges to encourage students to consider careers in construction and is providing them with training and summer-work opportunities high school and college graduates entering the construction industry can earn very good money says dr richard judy chief executive officer at workforce associates inc indianapolis which in demand 7

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check out your pay average annual salaries for construction professional staff architect $70,280 landscape architect $81,990 architectural/civil drafter $45,290 construction manager $78,290 cost estimator $60,690 engineering manager $90,890 civil engineer $63,560 civil engineering technician $45,990 electrical engineer $79,680 health and safety $59,010 engineer mechanical engineer $71,110 mechanical drafter $48,720 environmental engineering $45,980 technician purchasing manager $79,730 purchasing agent $56,360 surveyor $53,410 surveying technician $30,830 average annual salaries for skilled crafts boilermaker brickmason carpenter concrete finisher drywall installer electrician equipment operator crane operator glazier painter plumber rebar worker steel worker $49,220 $46,530 $38,730 $35,820 $34,010 $41,760 $42,210 $39,660 $36,940 $33,320 $47,190 $39,610 $40,960 wages salaries vary by region source u.s dept of labor bureau of labor statistics helps states develop proproject engineer a new grams to attract workers hire might make $42,000 to construction to $45,000 the first year a significant portion of the sky s the limit the skilled construction from that point on knud workforce is in their 40s hermansen a professor at and 50s and will be retiring the university of maine s over the next few years he construction says but there are nowhere management technology near enough younger program said that the workers to replace them cmt program not only ­betsy tondreau there s a misconcepsurveys its graduating tion among a lot of seniors about the jobs younger people that conthey take but about how struction jobs are hard and dirty and their careers are progressing five and 10 that they don t offer a lot in terms of cayears after they graduate for the proreer advancement but that is not the gram s most recent graduating class stucase says judy there are a wide range dents received an average of about three of opportunities available in the conjob offers and an average starting salary struction industry both for high school of just over $42,000 they stick with graduates who want to go directly into construction and have a very high level the workforce and learn a trade and of career satisfaction he says those who want to go on to college hermansen says that it is not uncomjudy looks at the big picture people mon for cmt graduates to see their closer to the action agree with them salaries double within seven to 10 years though we are really in a bidding war and to be earning six-figure salaries by for good workers says karen hall directhe time they are in their mid-30s tor of human resources at flintco a betsy tondreau is a real-life example company that builds sports facilities she picked a construction major at the prisons and schools university of arizona and was hired by the opportunities for jobs are unperini corp one of the nation s largest limited hall says there are all kinds general contractors after graduating of positions that are available and not thirteen years later she is second in just running a jackhammer but for all command on a $450-million hotel/casikinds of skilled and professional jobs no project in las vegas i love it every hall says that to grab the best college construction job is like a big puzzle and students graduating from constructionyou work with a great group of people related programs flintco targets a few to put it together betsy says students early on usually in their junior the bottom line is that work in the year many companies may even pay construction industry is interesting the [the student s tuition the last year or pay is good and the job security is defitwo to help ensure the student joins nitely there with a shot at management them after graduation she says positions where you aren t necessarily college graduates joining flintco tied to a desk says marsha freeland typically would start out as either an ashead academic counselor at purdue sistant superintendent or an assistant university s college of technology every construction job is like a big puzzle 8 www.careervoyages.gov photo courtesy of perini construction

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there s something for everyone in the construction industry job titles range so broadly they almost make it from a to z acoustical engineer architect 10 arbitrator attorney bricklayer building products manufacturer business developer cad operator civil engineer 15 code writer carpenter 11 cement mason contractor 12 concrete subcontractor construction manager cost engineer detailer developer educator electrical engineer environmental designer 15 equipment manager equipment manufacturer equipment operator 20 estimator 19 elevator constructor fabricator fire protection specialist geotechnical engineer glaziers hydrogeologists industrial hygienist insulation worker electrical worker 18 ironworker 21 landscape architect landscape contractor 13 lineman lobbyist marketing specialist 22 mason materials manager materials testing consultant mechanic mechanical engineer millwright operating engineer owner s representative 23 owner painter pipefitter planner plasterer plumber project manager project executive remediation contractor roofer safety official scheduler sheet metal worker software developer specialty contractor steel erector structural engineer 14 superintendent surveyor technology officer truck driver value engineer writer here are careers for all kinds in the construction industry with more than 70 different job titles from acoustical engineer to truck driver there is something for almost everyone from hands-on crafts mason to creative types architect to nature lovers landscape contractor to number crunchers cost engineer to high-tech cad operator some people think all construction jobs are dirty you can get your boots muddy at a construction site for sure but other industry jobs are as clean as a computer lab or as white collar as an owner s board room some people say there aren t many women or minorities in construction the numbers are still low but industry leaders know these groups make up the work force of the future we will detail 14 popular career paths in construction on the following pages and answer some of the questions you may have about these careers what do the people who have these jobs do why are these jobs important how much money can you make the stories should help you decide is this job for me in demand 9

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construction careers atoz architect what will i do architects plan and design all kinds of buildings from houses and schools to airport terminals and skyscrapers many of the buildings where we shop eat work and worship were designed by architects architects work with owners to figure out the kinds of spaces needed for different activities in the building and how people using the building will move from one area to another they select the materials that will be used come an architect you will need a professional degree in architecture practical training and a license how can i get it you can complete a five-year bachelor of architecture program another option is an undergraduate nonprofessional degree plus a degree from a master of architecture program architectural students also need career-related experience in an architecture firm most start while they are still in school and learn computer-aided design and drafting technology architects have to complete a three-year internship supervised by a licensed architect before they can become licensed once licensed they can manage projects become associates in a firm or start their own firm eric corey freed 35 owner and founder of organicarchitect san francisco calif q what do you do at your job a my firm designs single-family houses it is what i enjoy the most and what i am focused on for the next five years this year we are starting to develop a community of green homes a green prefabricated house for low-income people and a greening program for large hotel chains i also teach other architects how to be green and volunteer for non-profits if you are good at art math and science and work with engineers to figure out how strong the building has to be architects are responsible for making sure that buildings follow local safety codes q what do you mean by green a green buildings are both beautiful and environmentally friendly they use energy efficiently they don t pollute and they use energy and materials from renewable sources what will i get paid q why is architecture important what training will i need architects should be good at art math and science high school students interested in a career in architecture should take courses in english history art social studies math physics and computer science good communication skills creativity and the ability to work alone and with teams are also important to be $34,375 the average salary of an a architecture goes beyond creating shelter architect in the u.s is about architecture can help solve social problems afford$56,000 the able housing create a sense of community lowest 10 percent shopping centers tie us to our history architect earned less than civic buildings and even raise our spirits salaries average $36,000 and the cathedrals senior salary highest 10 percent earned q why do we need architects average mid-level more than a architects are problem solvers right average salary entry$92,000 interns now they are working on the problem that level salary and entry-level buildings consume almost 40 percent of workers should the energy used in the u.s architects with expect to earn vision will help find solutions to issues like about $30,000 this facing us today $45,124 $68,630 chart source pas inc 10 www.careervoyages.gov

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chris baker 25 apprentice carpenter united brotherhood of carpenters and joiners local #3 carpenter what will i do everywhere there are examples of the work that carpenters do houses schools hospitals and almost every type of building are built by carpenters carpenters work with many kinds of hand and power tools they work with in between carpenters must know how structures go together what materials are used and which tools will get the job done many apprentice programs offer training in things like math rigging blueprint reading working with reinforcing steel fabrication and structural steel carpenters are trained either through apprentice programs or by learning skills from mentors and coworkers some enroll in four-year apprenticeship programs where training takes place in classrooms and in the field on construction sites q what do you do a as a carpenter apprentice i m learning all the basics of building i do everything from hanging doors to working with sheet rock i ve learned how to build steps which can be pretty complicated and even how to build a domed roof there is a lot math involved and a carpenter always has to do a lot of thinking q why did you choose to be a carpenter a i like the fact that it s always different there is always something new to learn i ve always liked working with my hands rather than sitting behind a desk i was working as a cook in a restaurant before and i like this much better carpenters build houses buildings and even highways wood to make frames for houses decks floors cabinets stairs and roofs and they also work with drywall and other materials for interior and exterior finishing they also build frames for pouring concrete carpenters work with their hands but they must use their minds to read blueprints and calculate measurements and dimensions some are employed by construction firms some are self-employed and others join trade unions q how are you getting your training a i joined the carpenter s union and began attending the carpenters and joiners apprentice program.we go to school one day per week and the rest of the time we are out on jobs i ve been here about three and a half years in that time i ve worked with three or four different contractors a year on all kinds of jobs.when i started all i knew about the craft was that carpenters use a hammer and a tape measure q what are your goals for the future a after i become a journeyman i plan to continue taking classes to keep upgrading my skills i want to get as much training as i can ultimately i want to start my own construction company what will i get paid what training do i need and how can i get it photo sonny petrongolo carpenters have to learn how structures are built from floors to roofs and everything wages for carpenters vary according to region the company for which they work and their level of work experience most carpenters are paid by the hour and the amount of money they earn goes up as they learn new skills and gain experience an apprentice earns about half of the carpenter wage paid for wages three or four years of experiaverage foreman ence some are hourly wage promoted to average journeyman foreman or suhourly wage pervisor positions that command higher wages chart source u.s dept of labor occupational employment statistics personnel administration services inc $18.26 $22.56

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construction careers atoz contractor what will i do contractors perform all kinds of jobs required to manage the construction of highways bridges tunnels housing developments commercial buildings and environmental cleanups general contracting firms manage and coordinate contractor some start their own companies another way to enter the business is to attend a two-year or four-year college for a degree in construction management engineering or construction science during college many students intern for contracting firms after graduation they often work as assistant project managers or assistant project engineers some contractors return to school after working for several years to earn a masters degree in construction management or a related field business training can be very useful bodunde omodele 29 skanska usa atlanta if you would like to translate drawings into reality the construction process from start to finish specialty contractors focus on one specific part of a project such as the installing the electrical system placing the concrete or building the steel frame contracting firms range from local companies with a handful of workers to global competitors with thousands of employees assistant project engineer q how did you decide to become a contractor a i knew about construction and engineering from family members in the industry i graduated from high school in nigeria and also attended a university there that offers construction management i also got experience in the field working for a contractor i graduated in 2000 what will i get paid the size and type of firm directly affect the salaries of contractors those with a four-year degree from a construction or engineering program can expect higher salaries earlier in their careers according to u.s bureau of labor statistics candidates with a construction-related bachelors degree make salaries averaging $43,000 a year construction managers command annual salaries of about $62,500 high-level managers make the most and may earn $80,000 or more a year owners and partners in contracting firms may earn $100,000 or more q how did you get your current job a i applied for jobs in the u.s to gain more experience and expand my horizons but i had little success in my job search because construction is different here.to learn more i enrolled in southern polytechnic state university in atlanta and got a masters degree in construction management.through the school i got an internship at skanska after i graduated the firm hired me a i work with dozens of subcontractors estimators designers material suppliers and the project owners to make sure the building is constructed on time and within budget i have to think ahead anticipate problems such as materials arriving late and find a solution to keep the project on track it takes a lot of teamwork photos left ann states middle doug hoke right sang park what training will i need and how will i get it different contracting jobs require different kinds of training some high school graduates learn construction skills through craft apprenticeship programs that include classroom instruction and paid on-the-job training they may move up to superintendent jobs and on to project manager jobs with a q what do you do in your job q why do you like your job a i love my job because you see a drawing on paper and then you bring it to reality 12 www.careervoyages.gov

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ryan letcher 28 midwest wrecking co oklahoma city okla project manager and estimator q how did you decide to become a demolition contractor a my dad works in the industry as an independent insurance agent he works with a lot of contractors so i knew about the business i enrolled in texas tech university to get a degree in civil engineering one day i read an article about a demolition company i decided i wanted to tear down buildings instead of build them so i changed my career course bill sadler 30 valleycrest orange county calif project manager q what do you do in your job a i work on a lot of different types of projects from small houses to 14-story buildings i oversee projects so sometimes i drive from one job site to another checking in with foremen and superintendents on progress other times i calculate proposals outlining the cost to tear down a structure q why do you like your job a a love of nature design and construction brought me to this position i have opportunities to work on a variety of projects from complex urban revitalization efforts to world class resorts to large master-planned communities no day is ever like the one before and this keeps me interested q why do you like your job a i get to knock down buildings for a living it s entirely different from building them when you are building a house there are drawings specifying the materials and mapping out the design but when you tear down a building the drawings don t always exist the blueprints could be lost or destroyed so it s a challenge to plan how to tear down a building without knowing all the pieces i also get to meet a wide variety of people i am never stuck in the office q how did you get your current job a i graduated from california polytechnic state university in 2000 my degree is in landscape architecture after graduation i worked for several general contractors and two landscape architecture firms prior to joining valleycrest q what do you do in your job a i manage projects from start to finish after a project is awarded i create the budget and ensure that our labor and material costs are in line preparing and updating project schedules and labor production are also part of my job daily i review the progress of my projects and visit sites at the job sites i work with the project superintendent and the customer chart source u.s bureau of labor statistics 2004 contractor salaries starting salaries with college degree $43,000 managers $62,500 owners and partners $100,000 in demand 13

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