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Pros & Cons of Construction Work

By April 16, 2019 No Comments
Pros & Cons of Construction Work-min

If you choose to have a career in construction, you’ll become part of a global industry with a variety of exciting and rewarding jobs to choose from. You will be a contributor to important work that helps drive our country’s economy. Working on a wide range of infrastructures can be rewarding, including houses, schools, hospitals and apartment complexes. Also, roads, airports and train stations are constantly being built and workers are needed.

Working on large scale investment projects such as stadiums and skyscrapers is exciting! More extensive training can get you into specialized jobs. A high rise crane operator for example can earn an amazing salary. Crane operators work 12 to 14 hour days, often with only one or two breaks. Given that crane operator jobs are solitary and sedentary, turnover is high..

In 2017, the Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that the average, annual crane operator salary was $55,690. Experienced crane operators that are working on large-scale projects may make as much as $84,290 a year. Experience for this job can be gained on the construction site. If you are interested in securing a crane operator job, begin by working as a rigger. This position will give you an on-the-ground look at what it takes to work in a crane operator job down the road.

Before making any of these permanent construction job career decisions, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of construction work. The following list will help you decide if construction work is right for you:

Pros of Construction Labor Jobs

1. Great Salary

Construction is a very broad term and the pay scales will vary depending on the type of construction job you are doing, as well as your skill-set. However, compared to other labor jobs, a construction worker can expect to enjoy an excellent paycheck when there is work.

Since an employee can learn the relevant skills quickly, a construction job is an easy way to increase your income without attending school for a number of years.

2. Flexible

Unlike in other industries such as banking or technology, construction workers have the flexibility of moving around the country if desired. Whether you want to live in a busy city or a quiet town, you will always be able to find nearby construction jobs. Just think about your daily commute wherever you live…there is always construction!

3. Diverse Opportunities

When you choose a career in construction, there are many different paths you can embark on.

This always growing industry allows you to explore a variety of construction job choices, and gives you the opportunity to add new skills and knowledge to your repertoire, which will be valuable wherever you choose to go.

Cons of Construction Labor Jobs

1. Safety Risks

On a construction site, even a minor slip or fall can cause serious injury. While work sites are much safer now than ever before, dangerous work conditions are still something you must always keep in mind before choosing construction work as your livelihood.

2. Short-Term Work

Construction workers often find themselves worrying about long-term job security or feeling uneasy about the future of their careers. Construction jobs eventually end, and then you find yourself looking for more work on another job. It is best to hook up with a company that is always working and needs your particular skill-set on every job.

The availability of construction jobs may fluctuate depending on peak periods (i.e. summer or during the holidays) and it may be difficult to find work in a snow-prone region for example.

3. Age

As you become older, working on a construction site becomes more difficult and risky, especially if you suffer from a past injury. However, if you build the right skills, there is the opportunity to work your way up to a more comfortable and safer office job. Perhaps it is best to learn electrical skills, plumbing or carpentry to become more valuable for each job site you apply for.

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