Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Did you know there are over 7 million workers in the construction industry in the United States alone? Those workers build nearly $1.4 trillion worth of structures each year, and that number isn’t expected to stop growing any time soon.

Even during economic strife, the construction industry has faced a steady incline over the last decade, but that isn’t the only benefit of entering this industry. Construction careers offer an entire host of benefits, and we’re here to take you through a few of the biggest.

Read on to learn eight of the best benefits of a construction career.

1. Good Career Prospects

Only one person is entering the workforce for every five baby boomers that retire, leaving a shortage of construction workers with plenty of work to be found.

A significant reason for this shortage is young workers thinking the only way to create a promising career is by going to college, getting a degree, and working at a desk for the rest of their lives. While this is an excellent way to make money, there are other options — like entering into trade school or a certificate program.

You’re also really likely to save money on a certificate, and, depending on how quickly you finish your program, you might be able to enter into the workforce quicker.

Construction jobs aren’t usually hard to come by either. So, if you move or relocate, your chances of finding a job quickly are pretty high.

2. Providing Real-World Solutions

Construction can fly under the radar as unskilled laborers take part in, but the opposite is true.

Construction takes a lot of skill, and it’s a hard trade to learn. These are also the tradesmen who build homes, hospitals, offices, restaurants and quite literally pave the way for others to get to work in the morning. They’re the reason we have roads, bridges, and even that one overpass you always pay to use when you want to avoid traffic.

Taking on a career in construction allows you to contribute directly to these projects and so many others.

3. Chances for Mentorship and Career Development

If you like learning, a career in construction could be just the thing for you. Likewise, you’re also likely to have the chance to provide construction career training at some point in your professional life — especially as more millennials begin to take over the workforce.

According to the Journal of Vocational Behavior study, taking on a mentorship role during your career can have a few benefits. You’re more likely to:

• Have a higher commitment to your company
• Perform better at work
• Have higher job satisfaction

While being a mentor isn’t essential to having a good career, people often find satisfaction in helping others. Unlike internships or apprenticeships, mentorship programs also give you the chance to learn alongside the person you’re teaching.

No matter how far you are into your career, there’s always something new to learn if you’re open to it. You’d be surprised at what students and mentees can teach you throughout your time together.

If nothing else, you have the chance to create a professional relationship with the potential to last well after the training has ended.

4. You Can Still Have a Tech Career

While the construction industry can be slow to implement new technologies, their offer is well worth the wait.

With technology like CAT Simulators, construction students can know firsthand what it’s like to work with equipment and machinery they might not otherwise have access to. These machines can be used with either TV screens or virtual reality goggles, and they’re meant to immerse students into the construction field, so they know exactly what to expect.

With other technology like this, the construction industry places itself at the forefront of tech-related and innovative careers, which is a good thing in the STEM-driven age we’re in.

While, according to this study, only 10 percent of construction CEOS said they felt the need for new technology, tech does have its place in the construction industry, and it’s making its way there one machine at a time.

Suppose you want to take a tech-driven approach to your construction career and/or education. In that case, you just have to be willing and able to research different opportunities that are available to you.  Many educational institutions do not have this type of training, but as you begin obtaining work experience, you can pick these skills up in the workplace.

5. Lifelong Opportunities

Since the construction sector is constantly growing, it needs to recruit new staff members. When you enter this career path, you enter into the chance to have a job for life, which some industries can rarely promise.

As you grow older, if you don’t want to stay on your feet all day, you can move into other parts of the field. You’re not always limited to one path if you don’t want to be.

The best part is, if you like traveling or moving about freely, then you can. Working on a contract or freelance basis means you can move wherever you’d like, and it means you usually get to stay close to wherever your project is located.

Some companies will even pay for your room and board if they know you have to travel to work for them. You’re never confined to one area if you don’t want to be, giving you access to the freedom that some people only ever dream of.

6. Stay Fit

It isn’t uncommon knowledge that sitting at a desk all day isn’t great for your health. However, you don’t have to worry as much with construction careers. When you work in the construction industry, you naturally spend more time on your feet.

Whether you’re walking, bending, lifting, twisting, or stretching, you’re going to have more opportunities to stay physically fit and healthy.

That does, of course, mean you’re going to have to care for your body, but that’s a lot easier than it sounds. Here are a few easy examples of care tips once you’re on the job:

• Pack plenty of water and snacks
• Remember sun protection
• Always have protein on hand
• Eat breakfast and complex carbs

While having a career in construction isn’t going to guarantee top physical health, it’s something you can access a lot more easily than when you’re sitting behind a computer instead of moving around more.

7. Collaboration Is Essential

If you enjoy being part of a team, then this might be one of the best benefits of a construction career you’ll be able to find. Often, working with a team allows you to form strong bonds and especially strong networks. 

You’re also more likely to finish work faster and perform better than you might by yourself. Working as part of a team is rewarding in itself, but when you’re working as a team to build something tangible and useful, you’re even more likely to feel good about what you accomplish and the work you complete daily.

8. You’re Less Likely to Get Bored

While construction is more physically demanding than a desk job, you’re less likely to get bored while doing it. Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new, and that’s never a shortage of new things to learn. You can learn a lot about the trade-in school, but most of your learning will come from job experience. So, every day will present you with more learning!

Unlike a desk job, you’re also able to see what you’re doing, and the result is a tangible one. This is usually more satisfying than a tech product that you can’t physically touch (though you can see and interact with it).

When you sit in one spot all day or stare at a screen for long periods, your chance of burning out goes up. You might feel tired for seemingly no reason at all, but when you’re moving around all day, and you’re not spending entire days indoors, you’re not as exposed to this feeling.

Do Construction Careers Sound Like a Good Fit?

Now that you’ve read about a few of the biggest benefits that come with construction careers, does the industry sound like a good fit for you? Maybe you were surprised by some of the things you read, or perhaps you already knew everything we talked about. Either way, if you’re considering going back to school, then construction trades might be just the thing for you.

There are many construction options, such as electrical training and HVAC technician programs. You can also enter many sectors. Contact us to learn more about our programs and how you can get started.