Why Construction?
Why a career in construction?
Construction is an industry that will always need skilled workers. Studies show that the construction worker job market will see significant growth as baby boomers retire in the years to come.
With many current workers entering retirement, people at all stages of their careers are looking to transition to higher-paying, more secure careers and will be the ones to benefit from an array of jobs in the construction field.
If you want something that will make you successful on your first day and well into the future, consider a career in construction.
Apprenticeship and the union advantage
Becoming a skilled journeyworker in a union is a career choice for a lifetime.
The skills required for most trades are developed through apprenticeships, which combine 3-5 years of classroom instruction and paid on-the-job training under the tutelage of an experienced journey-level craftsperson. Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, participants receive the industry-accepted credential as a journey level worker.
Each union has its own apprenticeship program. Most set standards that exceed requirements under the Massachusetts Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Division of Apprenticeship Standards, providing top-notch training content and wage progression. Many union apprenticeship programs also offer college credit for their apprenticeship training and will fund some post-apprenticeship college courses, empowering union members to receive an associate or higher degree from an affiliated institute of higher education. And unlike a college education, apprentices earn while they learn, making apprenticeships affordable for all.
Wages in union construction are above national averages in other fields, and offer benefits such as quality health insurance and robust retirement pension plans, which provide security for union members and their families.
For more information about building trade apprenticeship opportunities in Massachusetts, visit the Massachusetts Building Trades Unions website. For a directory of union building trades apprentice programs, click here.
