Construction Sector:
Career Profiles
This vast and diverse sector provides opportunities in both well-known fields and niche areas of work. The variety of work available can be divided into five main areas:
- Architecture - new builds, regeneration, conservation, commercial and redevelopment;
- Civil and Structural Engineering - coastal and marine, environmental, geotechnical, structural, highways, bridges, rail, tunnelling, airports/ports, transport planning, power, water, public health, risk management and project management (crosses all sectors);
- Construction and Building Services - construction management, design and build, facilities management and building services management;
- Engineering Construction - air, power, water, oil, gas and nuclear facilities, chemical process plants and infrastructure;
- Surveying - building surveying, land surveying, quantity surveying, rural practice and hydrographic surveying.
Working Environment
Construction has in the past sometimes had a poor perception as a working environment but work has been done by employers to improve conditions and remuneration packages. The result is that the construction industry has seen increased participation of people in the 20-29 age bracket and also more women joining the sector. The need for a work life balance is recognised by employers more than in the past. Despite these positive trends, the industry risks a serious shortfall due to an ageing workforce retiring or leaving the industry.
The construction industry moves at a fast pace. New methods, techniques and technology develop rapidly and legislation is always changing. Feedback from new recruits shows that they value the following aspects of the working environment:
- variety
- challenge
- responsibility
- intellectual stimulation
- sense of satisfaction from contributing to the safety, efficiency and sustainability of the environment and developing world.
Diversity in the industry is not increasing enough to meet the skills gap.
- Women make up 9.6% of the Scottish construction workforce, and 9.3% of the overall UK construction total.
- Ethnic minorities make up 0.4% of the Scottish construction workforce, and 3.2% of the UK Construction figure.
- The Sector Skills Council “ConstructionSkills” launched it’s Positive Image recruitment campaign in 2006 to tackle these issues
- Most jobs in Construction are full time
20% of all jobs in Engineering Construction are part time. - The average age of a worker is 39/40, this is higher than the Scottish average of 36.
Career Profiles
Positions for graduates include: Building control surveyor / Building project manager / Building services engineer / Civil engineer (consulting) / Civil engineer (contracting) / Civil engineering surveyor / Construction estimator / Engineering geologist / Environmental engineer / Geotechnical engineer / Planning engineer / Quantity surveyor / Site agent/manager / Site engineer / Structural engineer / Traffic/highways engineer / Water engineer / Architect / Architectural technologist / Agricultural auctioneer / Auctioneer/valuer, property / Building surveyor / Estate agent / Facilities manager / Historic buildings inspector/conservation officer / Home inspector / Housing manager/officer / Rural practice surveyor / Urban general practice surveyor / Planning and development surveyor / Town planner
See Prospects for further information on career profiles
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