Date: 2nd January 2020
Author: Colin Walker
1. High demand for skilled workers
The construction industry is currently experiencing a labour shortage. The UK construction workforce is ageing along with the rest of the world but many firms are finding it difficult to attract new talent from young members of the labour market. Currently, around 20% of the entire construction workforce is in their fifties who will retire in a few years’ time. The demand for skilled workers will continue to increase as employers look for new workers to fill these positions. So if you are considering a construction career, there will be no shortage of opportunities for you.
2. High annual salary
Getting a job in the construction industry also gives better financial security for employees. The average salary for a construction worker in the country is about £45,598, which is 10% higher than the national average. Salaries across the sector have also risen by 9% in 2019 compared to the previous year. In addition to this, it takes considerably less financial investment to train for a skilled trade than a university degree. Entering an apprenticeship program also lets you earn money as soon as you finish high school.
3. Industry is modernising
The construction industry has a reputation for being one of the least modernised. However, this has changed over the past few years and the industry is moving towards having a more technologically advanced environment. From drones and construction software like payment collections to exoskeletons and other sophisticated machinery, the current state of the industry is drastically different from the years before. For construction jobs, this means that younger employees have move opportunities to apply their tech skills and work with new technologies firsthand. And this digital transition shows no sign of stopping soon.
4. Every day is new
Job stagnation is a real problem for many employees. Doing the same thing on the same schedule and in the same workplace over and over can lead to burnout. This is not the case for the construction industry.
Construction projects are also distinct from one another. Construction workers can work on residential, commercial, and government projects. Each one poses different challenges that need different approaches. People who work on the construction field get to interact with different people, such as clients, suppliers, and fellow contractors.
5. Meaningful career
The construction industry is one of the few that can give employees a unique sense of achievement. The job can be stressful at times but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up, literally. Construction employees are an integral part of building not just a community but the country as well. In a sense, it instils a sense of meaning in a career that no other industries can provide.
The bottom line is that the construction industry is one of the best industries to build a career in. Not only does it provide financial security, but it also continues to improve in terms of technology and safety. If you are on the fence about building a construction career, we hope that the reasons outlined above lead you to a well-informed decision.
About the Author:
Patrick Hogan is the CEO of Handle.com where they build software that helps contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers with late payments. Handle.com also provides funding for construction businesses in the form of invoice factoring, material supply trade credit, and mechanics lien purchasing.
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