Architecture & Construction

Building and maintaining all kinds of structures is what makes the construction industry tick. People who work in construction build homes, manufacturing plants, and office buildings, as well as streets and highways, sewers, irrigation projects, and more. The industry also includes activities such as painting, electrical work, and plumbing.

The construction industry status and the country’s economic growth are strongly linked. When construction is up, spending increases on related products like furniture, appliances, or equipment to outfit new structures. Related areas such as property development and material suppliers also benefit from construction industry growth. And when large numbers of workers are hired for construction projects, they spend their earnings on other parts of the economy as well.

A large number of jobs in construction are expected to open up in the next few years as highly-skilled and experienced trades workers—such as laborers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, equipment operators, painters, and supervisors—retire from the workforce. Many employers want to attract women and people of color to positions in the skilled trades, as they are currently often underrepresented on the job.

Construction fields with the largest number of workers include construction laborers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, construction equipment operators, construction managers, painters, and cement masons.

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY

Students in Construction Technology build and maintain structures ranging from rough scaffolds, residential electric and concrete forms to homes which require exact finish-work. They work with wood, metal, plastic and concrete. Using both hand and power tools, people in the construction trade erect wood frameworks for buildings, install window frames, apply exterior siding and install moldings, cabinets, doors, heating and cooling systems, plumbing and hardware finish.

Construction Technology Education gives the student the opportunity to participate in the different phases of residential construction. This helps the student decide which trade or craft he/she wants to serve an apprenticeship.

During the training program, students construct houses on-site and will be involved in all phases of construction. The program is designed as pre-apprentice training and will include the following areas of construction: carpentry, masonry, plumbing, heating, roofing, landscaping, painting and decorating and electrical wiring. The student receives both classroom and on the job training.