“Typical builders” and “dodgy labourers” are phrases that used to come to mind for many when they thought of the construction industry. However, gone are the days when anyone who wanted to find a job walked onto a building site and asked for some work to earn a few dollars.
Today’s construction industry is a well trained, highly competent and well regulated industry. Most people in the construction industry are university educated – ranging from professional project managers to Engineers, Architects, and so forth. Below are four common myths about the construction industry:
Myth 1
“That the Construction Industry is just about simple building with labourers and their tools “ … The current construction industry involves so many aspects of society – from town planners, engineers, economists and communicators. Highly trained people using advanced equipment are constantly evolving and the construction industry is filled with huge companies like Thiess, Hyundai Construction Equipment, and many more – creating thousands of jobs.
Myth 2
“That anyone can work in the Construction Industry”…. It is rare to find a construction worker without either a university degree or a qualified trade under their belt. In a highly competitive workforce, continual training is commonplace and workers are some of the most highly skilled people in our nation. Apprenticeships are highly coveted and the Government recognises the importance of this training and funds companies to train staff efficiently.
Myth 3
“People end up working in construction because they can’t get a job anywhere else” – while this might have been the case once upon a time, in today’s construction industry – most are working in it after years of training and education and because they find it rewarding to work in an industry that is involved in the constantly evolving nature of construction. For many, there is a sense of satisfaction from using using both their physical and mental skills to create a product that will be viewed for many years into the future. A job in construction is something many work very hard to obtain and value highly.
Myth 4
“That working in construction is a dead end job and you will never be really successful….” Some of the larger projects in the construction industry are also some of the most successful business ventures this country has ever seen. Millions and millions of dollars are generated within the industry, resulting in hundreds of jobs with workers in the construction industry now earning very lucrative dollars for their efforts. Where once it may not have been a job to aspire to – it is now highly regarded within the business industry to be working or have worked within the construction industry as most can now appreciate the skills and efforts that are required to be involved in this type of work.