The Building Construction Industry
People in the Building Construction industry build structures that are beautiful and last for decades and even hundreds of years. Workers in this industry work with a variety of tools and techniques. They need to have knowledge of different building materials. The work is often very physical and often requires basic math problem solving skills.
JRTI has two programs to prepare you for working in the Building Construction field. You will learn about these programs in the next two lessons.
Who Works in Building Construction?
Example Job Titles
- Carpenter
- Framer
- Installer
- Roofer
- Contractor
- Laborer
- Apprentice
- Bricklayer
- Stonemason
- Concrete Finisher
- Tile Setter
- Plasterer
Education Requirements
Although many people enter this industry without a college degree, most job listings will state that a four-year Bachelors Degree is required. A certificate from a technical school or a two-year Associates Degree can get your career started. However, higher levels of education can increase the opportunities you will have. Even if you plan to attend college, studying this field in high school can give you the foundational skills that will make your college experience easier.
Example College Programs
- Construction Management – Westwood College, Annandale, VA
- Construction Engineering & Management – Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
- Civil Engineering – Penn State, Harrisburg, PA
- Occupational Safety – Fairmont State College, Fairmont, WV
- Architecture & Environmental Design – Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
Frequency of Skills Used in this Field
| Skill Categories | Very Often | Often | Occasionally | Rarely |
| Hands-on/operate equipment and tools | X | |||
| Critical thinking/creative problem solving | X | |||
| Basic math problem solving | X | |||
| Advanced math problem solving | X | |||
| Computers & technology | X | |||
| Written communication | X | |||
| Interpersonal and social | X |