Construction

Constructing a building can involve 60 different jobs. They all have to be done properly, and in the right order, if the building – or the bridge, or whatever – is going to stand up and be safe!
Construction is big business.
  • it employs around 2 million people in the UK
  • it employs about 6% of the Scottish workforce – about 220,000 people
  • in Scotland it will need 6,830 new construction workers a year between now and 2011.
  • there are about 200,000 women in the UK construction industry
  • women hold only about 1% of craft jobs, but they make up nearly 12% of those in design and management.
To work in this career area, you need to be practical and methodical. You should have a technical interest. You must work accurately, and be willing to take responsibility. Whatever job you do, you will be contributing to the safety of a structure which lots of people will use.

For some jobs you need to be physically strong. For most you must be good with your hands. You also need other skills besides the technical ones.
  • you must be able to work as part of a team – you might have to supervise a team
  • you might need to plan projects or write reports
  • in some jobs you have to get on well with the public – if you are a painter and decorator for instance, you must be friendly, polite and prepared to listen to your customer.