Have you fallen for any of these myths about construction before?
While the general perception of the construction industry has changed over the years, there are still a lot of common misconceptions that simply aren’t true.
It’s easy enough to believe what you hear, but these myths about the industry could end up doing more harm than good.
We’ve taken a look at some of the most common misconceptions about the construction industry and busted these myths.
Anyone can work in construction
One of the biggest myths surrounding the construction industry is the idea that just about anyone can pick up a pair of tools and get to work.
This is something that is definitely not true, with construction workers often being very skilled in their respective fields. Many people go to university or go through apprenticeships to learn the skills and land a job in construction.
A lot of training is needed to order to operate the machinery and equipment used in construction and managing a team of workers isn’t as easy as it looks. For example, architects have to train for 7 years to learn all of the skills and get the correct qualifications. Learning and honing your craft takes a long time, especially if you want to succeed at it.
You can’t just walk onto a construction site and pick up some tools, contrary to popular belief.
Construction work is very dangerous
There is always going to be an element of risk involved in construction, but that doesn’t mean that the industry as a whole is dangerous.
In 2018, there are multiple strict regulations in place regarding the health and safety of workers with the aim of creating a safer and more secure working environment.
Thanks to the implementation of new legislation and the introduction of new technology, workplace injuries have decreased rapidly and the construction industry as a whole is safer than it has ever been.
Workers are talked through all of the health and safety procedures multiple times during training and there are risk management plans in place. They are also provided with sufficient and effective PPE and are fully trained in first aid.
You can’t become successful
A lot of people believe that a job in construction is a “dead end” job and something that you are stuck in for life.
If you put in the work and have a passion for what you do, there will always be opportunities that present themselves and there is always an option for progression. A lot of construction project managers started out working on-site, so the possibilities are endless.
Working in construction is generally a well paid job, and applying yourself and working towards promotions can lead to some big paydays. Construction is a multi-million pound industry, and you could be looking at a hefty number at the end of each month if you work for it.
It’s a man’s world
The general perception for anyone not in the industry is that construction is exclusive to men, but that could not be further from the truth. Whilst the industry may be predominately made up of males, this doesn’t mean that women don’t hold an important place.
The construction industry has made leaps and bounds in recent years when it comes to the inclusion of women, across all aspects of the industry. From 1985 to 2007, there was actually a 81.3% increase in female employment.
Women have served pivotal roles in construction for many years such as administrative, quantity surveying and managerial and we’ve seen an increase in women workers on site.
According to research, there is currently over 320,000 women working in construction in the UK alone, with numbers growing each and every month. There is even a campaign called “#notjustforboys” by the Construction Youth Trust that is trying to get more young women interested in a career in construction.
Times are changing, and for the better.
Construction is bad for the environment
The idea that construction is doing more harm than good when it comes to the environment is something that simply isn’t true.
The majority of buildings are now built with the environment in mind, implementing multiple different renewable energy systems into the design and protecting the surrounding environment as best as possible.
As a whole, the industry has embraced the idea of using more sustainable and renewable technology and to act more environmentally friendly as a whole. As construction covers everything from design to development, eco-friendly methods can be applied throughout the entire process.
Summary
The construction industry is always changing, and it’s usually for the better. A lot of these misconceptions are ideas that would have been relevant years ago, but it’s important to lead the charge in changing the general perception of the industry.
With all of the progress made over the last few years, there has never been a better time to work in construction.
Brought in to help take the business to the next level! His role is to improve lead generation and customer satisfaction from over 7,000 registered clients. Jim loves interacting with potential and existing clients and has a wealth of marketing and sales experience through his previous roles at O2, the RAC and TalkTalk. Jim holds a BA (Hons) Business Studies degree majoring in Marketing. A season ticket holder at Liverpool FC and a keen golfer, Jim also loves the gym!