Types of Jobs in the Construction Industry

The Construction industry is growing. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the number of construction jobs is expected to increase from 7.2 million in 2018 to 7.5 million by 2026.

What are the Different Branches Within Construction?

The four major types of construction include residential building, institutional and commercial building, specialized industrial construction, infrastructure and heavy construction.

Residential Housing Construction

The first type of construction is residential housing construction, which involves building, repairing, and remodeling of structures for the purpose of housing people, supplies, or equipment. It includes apartments, townhomes, condos, nursing homes, dormitories, etc. Residential construction also involves repair and installation of utilities around the structure.

Institutional and Commercial Building

Institutional and commercial building encompasses projects such as schools, sports arenas, shopping centers, hospitals, stadiums, retail stores, and skyscrapers. Like residential housing construction, institutional and commercial building involves both putting up new structures and repair and maintenance of existing structures. 

Specialized Industrial Construction

Specialized industrial construction entails building structures that require a high level of specialization as well as technical skills in planning, construction, and design. Typically, this type of construction is carried out by for-profit or industrial corporations. For instance, oil refineries, nuclear power plants, and hydroelectric power plants are all examples of specialized industrial construction.

Infrastructure and Heavy Construction

Infrastructure and heavy construction emcompasses building and upgrading of railways, communications, and roads. Some other projects that fall under this type of construction include tunnels, bridges, highways, transit systems, drainage systems, and pipelines.

What are the Most Popular Jobs in the Construction Field?

The most popular jobs in the construction field can be split into three categories: Executive, Mid-level/Middle Management, and Specialty roles.

Executive Positions

Civil Engineer - Civil Engineers design major transportation projects. Civil Engineers conceive, design, build, supervise, operate, construct and maintain infrastructure projects and systems in the public and private sector, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment.

Safety Director - Safety Directors are directly responsible for managing the safety and risk associated with construction projects and company operations. Safety Directors proactively plan, direct and implement the company’s safety program to ensure a safe, healthy and accident-free work environment.

Construction Engineer - Construction Engineers manage the planning and design stage of construction projects. They carefully evaluate the structural, electrical, and mechanical condition of each project. The Construction Engineer also analyzes a job’s financial projections to ensure they are accurate and practical.

Building Services Director - The Building Services Director is responsible for developing preventative maintenance schedules at each facility and ensuring Project Manager work is complete. The Building Services Director is responsible for prioritization of work orders, training staff on maintenance procedures, and facility system inspections.

Senior Manager - Construction - Senior Construction Managers are responsible for all aspects of a construction project. They are in charge of all the activities within the site, including planning, directing, and coordination. They oversee all project design and monitor all inventories.

Chief Construction Officer - The Chief Construction Officer directs and oversees planning, practices, procedures, and personnel associated with an organization’s construction programs. They coordinate the activities related to corporate programs.

Project Manager - Project Managers oversee all aspects of the building process, working closely with engineers and architects to develop plans, establish timetables, and determine labor and material costs. They are responsible for ensuring the project is completed on budget and within scope.

Director of Construction - A Director of Construction is responsible for overseeing the completion of construction projects by handling planning, budgeting, and making key decisions to ensure that construction projects are in conformity with the proposed budget and are completed on time.

Construction Manager - Construction Managers coordinate and supervise the building of residential, commercial, industrial, and civic structures - from roads to bridges, and office buildings to factories.

Estimator - Estimators are generally responsible for estimating the work of particular projects. In addition, they estimate labor, material, and time requirements in order to be able to compute the overall cost of the project.

Safety/HSE Manager - Safety/HSE Managers work with contractors to identify specific hazards on project sites, such as potential electrocution, toxic substances, heights or threats to human life, and develop strategies to minimize or eliminate the risks or exposure to such hazards.

Superintendent - Superintendents are generally employed by construction companies to manage building projects and supervise the day-to-day activities involved with constructing a new structure. They assess the resources needed to complete a construction project and generate cost estimates to help set the project budget.

Land Development Manager - Land Development Managers are responsible for approving and reviewing land development requirements, overseeing section engineering and field operations, and managing construction and engineering professionals to meet all project and company goals in a timely manner.

Business Development Manager - A Business Development Manager is instrumental in driving new business for a construction company. Business Development Managers identify the right opportunities and build long-term relations with the right prospects.

Mid-level/Middle Management Positions

Quantity Surveyor - Quantity Surveyors manage the costs on a construction project. They help to ensure that the construction project is completed within its projected budget. Quantity Surveyors price/forecast the cost of the different materials needed for the project and prepare tender documents, contracts, budgets, bills of quantities and other documentation.

Project Manager - Project Managers oversee all aspects of the building process, working closely with engineers and architects to develop plans, establish timetables, and determine labor and material costs. They are responsible for ensuring the project is completed on budget and within scope.

Architect - Architects plan, develop and implement building designs. They compile feasibility reports, determine environmental impact, create project proposals, estimate costs, determine timelines and oversee construction processes.

Building Services Engineer - A Building Services Engineer consults with builders and clients about their needs and budgets, installs or oversees the installation of building components, and tests systems to make sure they work and make necessary adjustments.

Structural Engineer - Structural Engineers design buildings, bridges, and other types of structures. They measure loads and presses to secure structural soundness. Structural Engineer duties also include collaborating with contractors and guiding construction workers onsite.

Building Inspector - Building Inspectors ensure safety compliance of buildings, dams, bridges, and other structures; highways and streets; and sewer and water systems. They also inspect electrical; heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR); and plumbing systems.

Purchasing Coordinator - Purchasing Coordinators manage the purchase of products and services for their employers. They serve as the liaison in negotiations between their company and suppliers. It is their responsibility to assess vendors, negotiate new deals and renegotiate expiring contracts, and place orders for products and services.

Construction Coordinator - The responsibilities of a Construction Coordinator include completing repair projects on various build sites and managing work teams, tools, and the material budget. Construction Coordinators plan and oversee each project, determine the required budget, and purchase the needed materials and equipment.

Site Manager - Site Managers are responsible for ensuring that a construction project is completed on time and within budget. They coordinate and supervise construction workers, select tools and materials, make safety inspections, and ensure construction and site safety.

Safety Manager - Safety Managers are responsible for overseeing the safety of the work site. They are responsible for enforcing compliance with regulations and reviewing health and safety guidelines to minimize injuries, providing a great benefit to the safety of the workers on the site and the company as a whole.

Sales Representative - As a Sales Representative, you help buy and sell the equipment and materials needed for construction.

Propopal Coordinator - Proposal Coordinators prepare and revise each job bid or submission on behalf of a company.

Specialty Positions

Elevator Installer/Repairer - Elevator Installers/Repairers assemble, install, maintain, and replace elevators, escalators, chairlifts, moving walkways, and similar equipment in buildings. Elevator Installers/Repairers usually specialize in installation, maintenance, or repair work.

Electrician - Electricians assemble, install, and wire the electrical systems in new homes and buildings. Electricians usually install the wiring after the building is partially built. They follow blueprints and wiring diagrams. They also install electronic equipment and signal communication systems.

Plumber - Plumbers fit and maintain water systems in buildings. This includes toilets, baths, showers, sinks, washing machines and dishwashers. They can also install central heating systems but need additional qualifications to work with gas boilers.

Sheet Metal Worker - Sheet Metal Workers are responsible for installing and sometimes fabricating thin metal sheets used in a variety of applications. They install HVAC ducts, metal roofing, gutters and siding. 

Carpenter - Carpenters construct, repair, and install building frameworks and structures made from wood and other materials. Carpenters work indoors and outdoors on many types of construction projects, from installing kitchen cabinets to building highways and bridges.

Equipment Operator - Equipment Operators use machinery to move building supplies, earth, and other heavy materials at construction sites and mines. They operate equipment that clears and grades land to prepare it for the construction of roads, bridges, buildings, aircraft runways, dams, and other structures.

Mason - Masons can expect to work in all weather and with various materials, lift and carry heavy objects, and read and assess technical drawings. Their responsibilities include texturing and polishing blocks of stone, installing dressed stone, mixing cement and mortar, and restoring old and damaged masonry works.

Glazier - Glaziers specialize in installing different glass products, such as insulated glass that retains warm or cool air and tempered glass that is less prone to breaking. In homes, glaziers install or replace glass items including windows, mirrors, shower doors, and bathtub enclosures.

Solar Installer - Solar Installers assemble, install, or maintain solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on roofs or other structures in compliance with site assessment and schematics. This may include measuring, cutting, assembling, and bolting structural framing and solar modules.

Painter - Painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to a wide variety of structures, including walls, interiors, and exteriors of buildings, and bridges. Painters are also responsible for ordering paint supplies and mixing the paint and other materials to achieve the desired color or texture.

Ironworker/Steelworker - Ironworkers/Steelworkers install structural and reinforcing iron and steel to form and support buildings, bridges, and roads. Ironworkers/Steelworkers perform physically demanding and dangerous work, often at great heights. 

Insulation Contractor - Insulation Contractors install and replace the material that saves energy and helps reduce noise in buildings and around vats, vessels, boilers, steam pipes, and water pipes. Insulation Contractors also install fire-stopping materials to prevent the spread of a fire and smoke throughout a building.

Mechanical Contractor - Mechanical Contractors oversee the mechanical projects for organizations. They are responsible for the heating or cooling systems, refrigeration, piping, and plumbing of a building.

Foreman - A Foreman is responsible for ensuring that everything goes smoothly at a construction site. A few of the main duties of a foreman are coordinating tasks for the day, creating schedules for workers, overseeing quality of the site, and managing the budget. They also have to report the progress of the project to superiors.

Builder - Builders are involved in the physical labor aspect of construction, such as framing houses, installing sheathing and subfloors, building foundations, and installing roofing. They also perform finishing work, such as flooring, trim work, and install doors and windows.

Energy Auditor - An Energy Auditor improves the energy efficiency of both residential and commercial buildings. 

What Types of Careers in Construction are Growing the Fastest?

The heavy and civil engineering sector of the Construction industry is estimated to grow by 35%, according to projections from the BLS. Equipment operators, heavy and tractor trailer truck drivers, and electrical power line installers and repairers top the list of positions with the highest expected growth. 

In addition, specialty positions are seeing an increase in growth - to include electricians, plumbers, HVAC and refrigeration mechanics.

Conclusion

A career in the Construction industry allows you the chance to be a part of something that will help leave a lasting impact in the community by creating buildings, infrastructure, and sustainable projects.

In addition, a job in the Construction industry offers some of the best job security of any industry, due to the high demand for specialty and skilled positions. 

Because of the nature of the industry, veterans excel in the Construction industry due to their experience working in team environments, ability to solve complex problems, and ease with working in different elements.

Ready to get started with a career in the Construction industry? Search jobs in Construction or reach out to our Construction industry recruiting expert, Isabel Jessee.

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