The Construction Industry is divided into three major segments: General building contractors, heavy construction contractors, and special trade contractors. General building contractors build residential, industrial, commercial, and other buildings. Heavy construction contractors build sewers, roads, highways, bridges, tunnels, and other projects. Special trade contractors are engaged in specialized activities such as carpentry, painting, plumbing, and electrical work.

This industry s activities include work on new structures as well as additions, alterations, and repairs to existing ones.

Job opportunities are expected to be excellent in the Construction Industry, due largely to the numerous openings arising each year from experienced construction workers who leave jobs. The continued shortage of adequate training programs also will contribute to the favorable job market.

Persons can enter the Construction Industry with a variety of educational backgrounds. Those entering construction right out of high school start as laborers, helpers, or apprentices. Those who enter construction from technical or vocational schools also may go through apprenticeship training; however, they progress at a somewhat faster pace because they already have had courses such as mathematics, mechanical drawing, and woodworking. Skilled craftworkers may advance to supervisor or superintendent positions, or may transfer to jobs such as construction building inspector, purchasing agent, sales representative for building supply companies, contractor, or technical or vocational school instructor.

Many persons enter the construction crafts through apprenticeship programs. These programs offer on-the-job training under the close supervision of a craftworker, as well as some formal classroom instruction. Depending on the trade, apprentices learn a variety of skills, ranging from laying brick to putting together steel beams.

Most employees in this industry work full time, many over 40 hours a week. Construction workers may sometimes work evenings, weekends, and holidays to finish a job or take care of an emergency.

Workers in this industry need physical stamina because the work frequently requires prolonged standing, bending, stooping, and working in cramped quarters. They also may be required to lift and carry heavy objects. Exposure to weather is common because much of the work is done outside or in partially enclosed structures. Construction workers often work with potentially dangerous tools and equipment amidst a clutter of building materials; some work on temporary scaffolding or at great heights and in bad weather.