Buildings & Infrastructure
Building and Infrastructure: Careers with Firm Foundations
If there is one thing stopping us from exploring jobs in Building and Infrastructure, it is probably our concern about safety – much like how we feel wary about stepping into a construction site. It is only natural to feel this way, with concrete blocks hanging right above us, and heavy equipment being driven around. Careers in construction have also been long perceived as masculine and manual labour intensive, which might again, leave us thinking twice about working in the sector.
The truth is, we would be missing a lot of career opportunities – in entry, technical, and professional levels – if we let these thoughts dominate us. The rise of Construction 4.0 is driving huge leaps towards safer worksites and labour automation. From conducting site inspections with drones, to tracking workers’ location and safety through smart badges, various innovations are being embraced worldwide to build a safe working environment for all site workers. Construction managers can also now make fewer trips to the site, with the use of 3D modelling and virtual reality technologies.
To start off our tour to the future of Building and Infrastructure, we shall first run through the list of career opportunities available in the industry today.
Entry-level
- Carpenter Helper
- Construction Craft Laborer
- Material Transporter
- Material Handler
- Crane and Heavy Equipment Helper
- Electrician Helper
- HVAC Installer Helper
- Ironworker Helper
- Pipefitting Helper
- Welding Helper
Tehnical
- Form Carpenter
- Industrial Maintenance Technician
- Heavy Equipment Operator
- Electrician
- HVAC Technician
- Expeditor
- System Designer
- Flooring Installer
- Ironworker
- Irrigation Systems Specialist
Professional/ Management
- Site Superintendent
- Construction Manager
- Project Manager
- Safety Director
- Building Code Inspector
- Civil Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Environmental Energy Engineer
- Cost Estimator
- Architect
What are the career options?
While it is true that you can start off your career path in construction with almost no skills or experience, skilled workers are highly demanded in the industry. In fact, employers are finding it difficult to attract young professionals into the field, given the often physically demanding nature of the jobs. Some of the most in-demand skilled workers include project managers, estimators, engineers, as well as craft professionals like carpenters, sheet metal installers and concrete workers.
Moreover, the entry-level laborers are not truly unskilled. It is just that their skills require no special training or formal education, and can be learnt by assisting technical workers as well as practising over time. It also takes certain basic skills or qualities to begin with, such as physical endurance, compliance with rules or instructions, ability to work in teams, and attention to detail.
Both skilled and low skilled labourers work hand in hand in completing a project, which might stand tall longer than someone could live. This sense of achievement tops off the reasons why you should take up the adventure of working in the Building and Infrastructure field, regardless of your skill level:
- Job satisfaction – Imagine being part of the team who builds up global landmarks like Eiffel Tower or Golden Gate Bridge.
- Career stability – The demand for construction workers will continue to rise, with the growth of population and need for housing, as well as the continued emergence of many developing countries.
- High pay – Heavy equipment operator is one of the highest paying jobs, followed by ironworker, construction inspector, building engineer, and construction manager.
- Growing technologies – 3D printing, robots, drones, artificial intelligence, and other new innovations are paving the way for even more breakthroughs in the industry.
Job scopes in Building and Infrastructure are highly diversified, depending on the different levels of profession and specialisation. The collaborative nature of construction jobs makes them perfect for those who enjoy being out and about, and meeting new people, as a building project often involves multiple stakeholders.
To prepare you for the journey ahead, here are some common job scopes to expect at each level of profession in this field:
Entry-level:
- Physical works such as building, loading and unloading, laying pipes, and more.
- Follow instructions given by supervisors.
- Maintain construction tools and equipment.
- Cleaning and preparing worksites for projects.
- Distribute materials.
- Assist craftspeople or other construction professionals as required.
Technical:
- Read blueprints or technical drawings to understand building requirements.
- Measure and calculate the size and amount of materials needed.
- Build frameworks for foundations, bridges, buildings, and other tall structures.
- Handle and operate specialised machines like cranes, bulldozers, and excavators.
- Install, inspect, repair, and maintain electrical systems, equipment, or fixtures.
- Calibrate and adjust machinery and equipment to optimal specifications.
- Support field construction crews as required.
- Propose improvement plans to management to address long term issues.
Professional/Management:
- Manage the planning and design stages of construction projects.
- Plan, schedule, and manage construction workflow.
- Prepare cost estimation and budget.
- Conduct regular site inspections to keep up to hygiene and safety standards.
- Liaise with contractors, subcontractors, vendors, and suppliers.
- Supervise construction works on site.
- Prepare and maintain reports on manpower counts, weather conditions, material deliveries, and project status.
Construction 4.0
Along with Industry 4.0, the Building and Infrastructure sector is heading towards Construction 4.0, by embracing digitisation and modern, smart technologies in various aspects of building projects.
Among the many technological advancements, 3D modelling and virtual reality (VR) have worked wonders in bringing greater productivity to the field. Rather than relying solely on technical drawings and blueprints, 3D digital models and simulation are helping construction managers and engineers make better informed decisions. Efficiency of a building can be determined through a ‘digital twin’, by assessing factors like weather endurance, energy retention, and future costs, before actual construction. Site layout can also be communicated more effectively, by visually depicting arrangements of landscape elements and utilities like electrical service slabs, gutters, water piping, light poles, and other accessories. This helps technicians and electricians to set up the connections quickly and accurately.
The aid of virtual reality (VR) enables construction managers to limit their physical site visits, which in turn reduces their risk of exposure to site dangers. This technology is also widely used in employee training. Site workers can now learn to use new construction tools and heavy machines, in a safe, controlled environment.
That brings us back to our main concern about careers in Building and Infrastructure – safety. Industry leaders and contractors worldwide are finding new ways to protect site workers from safety hazards. Drones are used for site inspections, to detect hazards in dark and dangerous areas within a construction site. This minimises the risk of injury by preventing workers from entering these locations. Site workers today are also equipped with smart badges with built-in sensors and alarms that warn them of potential dangers. These wearables also act as trackers that help supervisors to quickly locate injured workers within the worksite.
Construction 4.0 is still an evolving concept. However, the ever-growing range of digital innovations are foreseen as a major driving force that will bring more young, skilled professionals into the sector.
In a nutshell
Burj Khalifa, Eiffel Tower, Sydney Opera House, Tower Bridge London – how amazing would it be if you drive by a skyscraper or another piece of infrastructure one day, and recall that you were part of the project? Make your entry into this fulfilling career area of Building and Infrastructure, and take the elevator all the way up to the top.