The construction industry is one of the largest in Australia, generating more than $360 billion in revenue. It only continues to grow, as more people become aware of the many possibilities of working in building and construction. The reasoning behind this makes sense; construction is a large source of fuel for the economy. It makes large contributions to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and evolution as a nation.
Having a career in building and construction can potentially be one of the most fulfilling for a person’s livelihood. The pride that comes with having built, fixed or engineered a project is immense, as it represents hard work and dedication. These are qualities that most human beings aspire to replicate in our daily lives.
But why is a career in building and construction so great? What makes it different from working in other industries? To answer this burning question, here are 5 reasons to go into construction.
Endless Jobs
Something that makes the building and construction industry so different from other industries is the sheer amount of jobs available. No two roles are the same, and many will find that there are ample opportunities to explore different jobs and find something that suits them. Many other industries such as finance and medicine do not offer this kind of flexibility. This is because the amount of roles are limited, and progression is not easy by any stretch.
Normally, advancing your career in these industries means facing high competition for limited vacancies of the best jobs, and losing out will resign you to fighting for mid to low range jobs with minimal chances of progression.
With construction, this is not the case. Barriers of entry are low, which means that anyone can get started and work their way up. Some of the many roles include Bricklaying, Carpentry, Joinery, Electrician, Professional Builder and Project Manager. All these roles differ significantly, yet they are not difficult to attain as a profession. Additionally, the level of support that can be received is significant. Undertaking numerous courses and gaining hands-on experience will go a long way to helping you achieve your dream job in building and construction.
It is also worth noting that the need for skilled professionals in building and construction is quite strong. Entering into construction will allow you to be trusted for numerous projects, diversifying your portfolio and expanding your repository of skills.
Flexibility
Learning in an area of construction can be time consuming as most roles are important to the fabric of society. They enable us to live and operate, whether that be through a new home, better plumbing, fitted insulation etc.
A common misconception associated with building and construction is that the time taken to become a professional in one’s choice of specialisation is long, with costs inevitably rising to unnecessary heights. This is far from the case. What construction does better than most industries is flexibility. Studying a course? Many courses give you the option to learn on the job while completing your studies.
What this does is prepare entrants to the industry to the umpteenth degree, ensuring that the industry is receiving quality professionals. Many other degrees make hands-on learning difficult to do at the same time, as internships and graduate programs that feature as next steps of many degrees only come after those degrees are completed. This is something that gives building and construction a considerable advantage, and is another reason why it is a stellar career to have.
The choice of course depends entirely on the student. Progressing through courses with a particular focus in mind indeed helps to sharpen knowledge whilst gaining skills in real life projects. Australia follows the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), which specifies the standards for qualifications in Australia.
There are 10 levels, from Certificate I to a Doctoral Degree. Your choice of course may start at a certain point on this framework, and could provide you with greater opportunities to expand your knowledge. We discussed courses and the AQF in previous blogs.
Earning potential
As mentioned earlier, the building and construction industry is one of the largest in Australia. With such high earning revenues and large contributions to the economy, it is no wonder that many are looking to construction to forge their careers. Construction creates jobs, and facilitates the building of public and private infrastructure to further advance nations. Further supporting this is the fact that skilled workers in construction are always in demand. The need for quality and safety is ever present, and thus employers are constantly seeking those qualified to perform roles in construction.
With the need for skilled workers comes the potential to make exponentially higher wages than other industries. It is no secret that those that work in construction can command higher wages because of demand, which makes for a great long term career that can be built upon over time. Whilst many roles in construction are physically demanding, you can progress into leadership roles that require an acute sense of management of resources, labour, time etc. to manage this.
Job Satisfaction
A word often associated with building and construction is “creation.” The process of making something exist. This is part and parcel of being a part of the industry. The benefit of working in construction is that you get to view your immediate results. This allows you to marvel at your own creation, make notes and/or adjustments, and continuously learn to hone your skills. This is the most rewarding part of construction, because you can treasure the impact you have made.
Job satisfaction also comes from unpredictability on the job. No two days are the same, and you will find that you are doing something different every day, whether that difference is small or big.
Many jobs follow the typical 9-5 cycle, which causes people to leave the labour force due to burnout. Construction solves this issue precisely through its unpredictability; every project or worksite brings a new task or challenge to conquer. Processes and workflows can change, so you will be unlikely to experience any kind of inertia from forging a career in building and construction.
Collaboration
The last, but certainly not least reason why building and construction is a great career is collaboration. You may have a certain area you specialise in, but you will end up working with different kinds of people with varying backgrounds. Occupations from architects and surveyors to contractors and engineers will need to work together to meet deadlines and produce results. A diverse range of people is needed to tackle the many challenges of working on a construction site, and this can be very enriching. You will learn and you will teach, and at the end of the day you will develop strong relationships which will improve your social life and satisfaction on the job.
Forging a career in building and construction can be one of the most fulfilling paths you can take in employment. The reasons stated in this blog provide ample evidence as to why you should strongly consider becoming a part of the industry. There are even more reasons, however these 5 have the strongest pull and clearly show you that having a career in building and construction is a sure way to having fulfilling employment.
Parker Brent is an accredited provider of building and construction courses, specialising in the Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) and the Diploma of Building and Construction (Building). If you are interested, enquire today.
