What type of education do you need to work in only construction jobs?
That depends on what type of work you want to do. If you want to be a skilled laborer in construction, in general, you'll need a high school education. Most construction promotions, such as that which may eventually allow you to become a construction supervisor, generally mean that you work your way up through the construction industry. For example, you may start as a laborer and work your way up to supervisor.
Some types of construction jobs do require specific licensing, such as if you are construction electrician. For these more formal types of construction work, electrician apprentices, for example, will spend time working under experienced electricians in an apprenticeship, and then receive classroom instruction before being required to take a test; after that, they are licensed as electricians and may specialize in construction work.
What do you need to do to get construction work?
If you have the strength and skill to complete the necessary work, you may qualify to get this type of construction work without any formal qualifications. However, you'll have to work under more experienced construction workers in an apprenticeship type set up, whereby you learn a trade on the job as you go.
In some cases, you may decide that you want to specialize in some types of construction work. Construction laborers, for example, can work with bricklayers and become helpers to the bricklayers or to plasterers. Cement masons, too, need helpers, and construction laborers can also help them.
Regardless of actual formal education, you will need to have some knowledge of construction itself. Again, this is mostly done through on-the-job experience, where you will begin at the lowest level of apprenticeship, and work your way up as you become more skilled and experienced.
Qualifications to be employed in only construction jobs
If you're healthy, have good judgment, and are particularly physically strong, you may qualify for construction work. You should also like to work with your hands and, depending on the project, like working out of doors, too. When you begin in only construction jobs, you'll generally be doing the so-called "dirty work," whereby you may simply be clearing up job sites, or preparing materials as directed by supervisors for construction work. Again, although this so-called "groundwork" is a beginning job, you can work your way up to more skilled and advanced work -- and can even become a supervisor -- as you continue.
Preparing for only construction work
If you think is construction is something you want to get into, you can actually begin working in construction as soon as you are able to get this job and can physically perform it; in most cases, this is going to be the age of 16. Again, if you are physically strong and in good health, you are in a particularly good position to do this type of work. You should also have good judgment and common sense, since construction zones can be dangerous places for those who are careless.
As one example, you may begin working lower-level construction duties like those described above during summer breaks while still in high school, and then decide to segue directly into only construction jobs upon high school graduation.
Compensation and job outlook
Although experienced construction workers can make relatively decent incomes, this can be among one of the lower paying professions out there, with workers making about $13 an hour on average. In addition, because much of the construction work available is seasonal, construction workers experience periods of "lay off" during the year, whereby they may not work as much, if any, during the winter months in some climates. In addition, because the economy often dictates whether the construction industry is booming or dormant, construction work can become sporadic during tough economic times. Nonetheless, construction work as an industry is always going to be around, and construction workers will always be needed. Therefore, if this is a career you want to get into, and you like a job that physically active and requires a responsible, gung ho attitude, a career in only construction jobs may be for you.
