Those on the outside of any industry hold common misconceptions about the work and the workers on the inside, and the construction industry is a perfect example. We’ve collected 7 of the top myths heard about the construction industry and debunked them below. Do women actually work in construction? Is contracting just a job for people who can’t get anything else? Keep reading to put the misinformation to rest.
Construction is a dead-end job
There’s no career potential. You can’t become successful with a construction job. It’s just a dead end. The numbers easily disprove this myth: with construction project managers making a median salary of over $82,000, it’s hard to say that you can’t find success in this multi-billion dollar industry. The career path has plenty of opportunities to work through the ranks, or even to start one’s own construction company and run a successful business. The variety of positions, tasks, and roles to fill in construction give workers plenty of opportunities for an ever-changing and rewarding career.
Construction isn’t for college graduates
Actually, most construction workers are either skilled tradesmen or already have some college education. Project management and higher-level positions actually require a degree or extensive technical training. The construction industry is one of the few fields that still demands extensive continuing education through classes, conferences, and seminars to meet safety regulations and skill demands. Construction is a job for the educated, and especially in such a competitive market, you may find that a degree is a vital tool to leverage in order to land the perfect position.
Construction can’t be sustainable
New standards and expectations have directed construction down a very environmentally friendly path. Modern buildings are designed and built with green initiatives in mind, and conscious effort is being given every day to continually make building construction as sustainable as possible. The U.S. market has increased its demand for sustainable buildings, and the construction industry is working to meet that need.
All construction work is really dangerous
You know the stereotype; construction work is men doing difficult manual labor and getting dirty on some scorching job site, putting their lives at risk with complicated machinery and heavy structures over their heads. This misconception just doesn’t take into account the strict safety standards and modern advancements that have steadily decreased work injuries over the years. Now, most tools and machinery come with safety features, and there are strict regulations on safety training and regular safety meetings. Much of the field’s continuing education requirements are safety-focused as well. Working construction is safer now than it has ever been!
Construction is a man’s job
There may be more men working in construction than women, but the numbers are changing every day and the field is absolutely an industry for women too! Over 300,000 women work in the industry across a wide range of roles. The career isn’t just for some archetype of a construction worker; it is for any skilled, passionate worker who has expertise to offer.
Construction doesn’t use modern technology
If you’re interested in current tech, then construction is a great place to be. 3D computer modeling, AI, VR, and nanotechnology are all being used right now for designing, planning, and building projects of all sizes. Drones and advanced robotics equipment have also made their debut in the industry and are becoming the standard for modern, efficient work.
Construction workers are just people who couldn’t get better jobs
On the contrary, not just anyone can get a job in the construction industry. Most construction professionals worked hard to get to their current position and status, and they are exactly where they want to be. Construction is not a “last resort” job for anyone to take; workers have specific, advanced skill sets in order to do what they do. The benefits, satisfaction, and mobility of the work make many construction professionals happy to do what they do every week.
There are a lot of negative concepts and ideas floating around out there about construction. Thankfully, the hard numbers and real-world testimonies can quickly disprove misinformation and demonstrate just how strong of a field construction is. The versatility, individual potential, and sheer size and value of the field makes the construction industry more than meets the untrained eye.
