By Jada A. Graves
As one of the hardest-hit industries during the Great Recession,
construction saw its largest percentage decline in employment in the
post-World War II era, 13.7 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
And as the country began to claw its way out of the economic muck, the
BLS had the highest recovery hopes for this goods-producing industry. In
its last biennial employment projections report,
released in February 2012, the BLS predicted numerous construction jobs
among the fastest-growing from 2010 to 2020. It was one of the most
off-the-mark predictions the government agency made, however.
Growth in this sector has been evident, but far from fast. The
estimated unemployment rate for construction slid from a chilling 20.6
percent in 2010 to 16.4 percent in 2011, and 13.9 percent in 2012. All
construction jobs are subject to the fluctuations of the economy, and as
yet, our economy is still grasping for footing. The construction
workers who are finding work are those with experience.
Fortunately, our U.S. News Best Construction Jobs aren't simply based on
employment projections, but also on actual unemployment rates,
salaries, good job prospects, plus advancement possibilities, low stress
and a steady work-life balance. Here are the 10 jobs we picked, where
the odds of finding a job could be in your favor.
Average Salary: $62,670
There's a myth that every construction job involves manual labor -- not
true. A cost estimator does occasionally don a hard hat and get his or
her hands dirty on a construction site, but he or she also spends
considerable time crunching numbers in a sterile office. Cost estimators
are involved in both high-level and minuscule decisions of budgeting,
and so they must remain familiar with a site's resources but also be
adept with computers and various estimating software. Some cost
estimators are charged with budgeting the cost of a project from start
to finish, while others are hired to budget specifics, like the
electrical component. A bachelor's degree in an industry-related field
is the most common starting point, but voluntarily pursuing
certification will give you even more of an edge. The BLS predicts that
those with knowledge of Building Information Modeling software should
have the strongest chances.
Fairbanks, Alaska, Santa Barbara, Calif., and Framingham, Mass., pay estimators the highest salaries, according to the BLS.
Average Salary: $93,900
There's also a myth that those who work in a blue-collar industry don't
earn a lot of green. This occupation disproves that. In 2011,
construction managers' average salary was just shy of $95,000, putting
them in a higher pay bracket than some computer systems analysts and
civil engineers. To become the professional responsible for planning and
budgeting a construction project, you'll most likely need a bachelor's
degree in construction science, building science, or a related field. An
associate's degree, when married with relevant experience, could also
serve as an appropriate entry. Other crucial traits for a construction
manager include: analytical skills for troubleshooting project snags;
some managerial experience so you can be adept at finding and
supervising staff; and strong communication skills for writing proposals
and budget plans. Population growth and heightened demand for more
office buildings, hospitals and infrastructure should elevate job
prospects for those qualified.
In 2011, New York state had one of the highest employment levels for
this occupation, plus it also paid its managers well: The metropolitan
areas of Elmira, Nassau, and New York City all report average salaries
of at least $135,000 to the BLS.
Average Salary: $51,830
It's the troubleshooting component of a plumber's duties that most of us
are familiar with, but there's so much more to this job. After a four-
to five-year apprenticeship, plumbers are versed in blueprints and
building codes and have the know-how to install, maintain, and repair
water and drainage pipes for small appliances, as well as large septic
systems. Employment demand in this field is spurred by a few factors:
new building construction, the installation of more-efficient, low-flow
plumbing systems, and a vast number of boomer plumbers who are expected
to retire soon.
Densely populated states like Texas, California, and New York are among
those with the highest employment level of plumbers, but some of the
top-paying metropolitan areas for this field might surprise you: The BLS
reports that Vineland, N.J., Peabody, Mass., and Madison, Wis.,
compensate plumbers especially well.
Average Salary: $41,620
In this profession, you absolutely cannot be afraid of heights: glaziers
cut, install, fasten, seal and remove glass for windows, skylights and
storefronts. And it also helps to be multifaceted, since the BLS reports
that employers prefer glaziers who can handle a range of tasks. The
majority of those currently employed are working in foundation,
structure, and building exteriors, but new commercial construction and
the need to retrofit and repair existing structures could drive hiring
demand for indoor projects as well.
If previous hiring trends are any indication, you'll want to look west:
California, Texas and Washington have some of the highest levels of
employment, plus the metropolitan areas of San Jose, Calif., and
Oakland, Calif., tend to pay particularly well.
Average Salary: $39,370
Concrete is a common foundation for many construction projects, and
using it involves installing rebar and other reinforcing materials,
pouring a cement mixture, spreading and leveling that mixture,
monitoring its hardening, and applying sealants. Like other construction
workers, cement masons and concrete finishers learn their trade during a
formal apprenticeship, but those who also take masonry-related courses
should experience the best job opportunities, according to the BLS.
Although work in this industry is often dependent on dry, warm weather,
the top-paying metropolitan areas are northern locales: Nassau, N.Y.,
Fairbanks, Alaska, and Bloomington, Ill., each paid average salaries
that were higher than $75,000 in 2011.
Average Salary: $38,830
One plus to painting is that those with limited or no experience could
find work. The basic qualifications to wield your first brush are a
minimum age of 18, a high school diploma or GED, and the physical
ability to do the work. But the greenest painters could face tough
competition finding -- and keeping -- employment when competing with
union workers who have completed a three- or four-year apprenticeship
program and have become certified. If you're hoping to make painting a
career, it's prudent to begin an apprenticeship where you'll receive
both technical training and practical experience.
In 2011, the BLS noted that the states that employed the most painters
were California, Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas. Illinois also
shelters the best-paid in the field. In 2011, the average annual wage
for a painter in the Kankakee, Ill., area was $69,880.
Average Salary: $50,760
Brick and stone exteriors are expensive but they still remain popular
building materials due to their durability. As the economy and housing
market rebounds, new buildings should be erected that use these
materials and require the skilled masons to lay them. Older brick
buildings will need repair. For these reasons, the BLS predicts that
employment for brickmasons and blockmasons could balloon 40 percent
before 2020. It's possible to learn some basics on the job, but studying
masonry at a technical college or entering an apprenticeship are also a
common training pathways. Programs usually last at least three years.
Large cities like Boston, Detroit and San Francisco compensate
brickmasons and blockmasons particularly well. Although the average
salary in 2011 was a little more than $50,000, according to the BLS,
workers in the aforementioned cities earned more than $70,000 annually.
Boston brickmasons nearly eclipsed $90,000 in 2011.
Average Salary: $52,910
The road to becoming a Master or Journeyman Electrician is long: it
starts with a high school diploma or GED, followed by a four- or
five-year apprenticeship with on-the-job training and lessons in
electrical theory, electrical codes and mathematics. Most states require
you to pass a licensing exam before you begin working independently,
and specialized training in soldering, fire alarms, and elevators might
also be necessary.
The top-paying metropolitan areas for this occupation are Vallejo, Calif., New York City, and Fairbanks, Alaska.
Average Salary: $44,330
Carpentry is one of the oldest construction professions as well as one
of the most versatile. You could choose to work on a smaller scale,
building frameworks for residences, or on a slightly larger scale,
insulating a high-rise office building, or even on a colossal scale,
fortifying trusses for bridges. Carpenters' exposure to all components
of a construction project make them one of the more secure professions
within the industry, although they, too, could be employment victims of
the fickle economy. Those with the best employment chances have
completed an apprenticeship and preferably can speak both Spanish and
English.
The best-paid workers are employed in some pretty scenic places, like Honolulu, San Francisco and Santa Cruz, Calif.
Average Salary: $34,170
The pros: With little to no experience, a general construction laborer
or helper could get hired to do odd tasks on a site, and just about
every construction site needs workers to assist with loading and
unloading materials, making measurements, digging ditches, operating
equipment, and cleanup. Now the cons: General construction laborers
often don't have any formal education requirement or licensing to start
work, so the spectrum of "experience" someone has working in this field
is immense. The most seasoned and multifaceted have the best
opportunities, while the rookies could get the shaft. The pay scale is
also low, starting around $9 an hour in 2011, the BLS reports. But this
occupation could be a great springboard into another branch of
construction, and some of the time spent working under a master
electrician, plumber or carpenter could count toward the practical hours
needed in a skilled trades apprenticeship.
The best-paid general construction workers are employed in
Massachusetts. The BLS reports that in 2011, workers in Boston,
Leominster and Framingham, Mass., made at least $53,000 annually.
As tough as the labor market is, college grads still have an easier time
than those with only a high school degree. In February, college
graduates had an unemployment rate of 3.8 percent -- compared to a
staggering 11 percent for those with only a high school diploma. Still, a
new study released Tuesday shows that there are some good careers out
there for those who lack a four-year degree.
Where do most workplace injuries happen? Oil drilling, you might think, or construction,
or truck driving. But in an ironic twist, the workers in the most
dangerous industry don't have to go very far if they get injured; they
work in the health care sector.
If
you're a job seeker, you know how competitive it can be when you're
trying to land a job. So it might be surprising to you that some
employers are having a tough time finding the right people to fill open positions.
In fact, 35 percent of hiring managers currently have positions that
have remained unfilled for 12 weeks or longer, according to new research by CareerBuilder.
That's because certain occupations often require workers with
specialized skills, and there aren't enough workers with those skills to
fill the gaps in employment.
Since the financial crisis, employers have been hesitant to hire full-time employees, often blaming "economic uncertainty," among other problems. But according to CareerBuilder's latest mid-year forecast, that is changing. For the second year in a row,
nearly half of 2000 employers surveyed, or 44 percent, said they plan
to hire new full-time permanent employees during the final six months of
the year. That is a big jump from 2011, when 35 percent said so.
(CareerBuilder, which is an AOL Jobs partner, compiled the data from
2,000 hiring managers.)
Since its dreariest days, the U.S. auto industry
has made an impressive comeback. Now the country is at a tipping point:
So many factories are working at capacity that companies are
considering expansion, and a big fat hiring binge.
