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Construction Technology and Architecture

​County vocational-technical schools prepare students for careers in all aspects of the construction industry, including building trades, project management, architecture, drafting and design, and facilities maintenance and operations.

Most districts offer programs for both high school students and adults in construction trades, like carpentry, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and welding. Through partnerships with local employers and labor unions, many districts also offer work-based learning opportunities and apprenticeship training.

Students in these high-demand fields develop skills through hands-on learning and also gain experience in planning, designing, and estimating project costs. Construction-related programs also provide training in safety, related mathematics and science, and small business skills.

Students in construction-related programs hone their skills in industry-standard workshops, where they work together to build structures from the ground up. These buildings meet all structural and safety requirements and are subsequently used in the schools as well as in the surrounding communities. In fact, Cumberland County Technical Education Center students recently built a tiny house on wheels as part of a class project that was later put up for auction.

Why Construction and Architecture?

  • Employs more than 7.3 million people
  • Accounted for 4.3% of U.S. GDP in 2020
  • Valued at $1.365 trillion in 2019
  • 41% of current workforce projected to retire by 2031
  • American Welding Society says the U.S. could need more than 400,000 new welders by 2024

Take a closer look at Construction:

Two Salem County students nail on roof shingles.
Hunterdon students get hands-on experience with forklift on campus.

Career pathways in this area include:

Architect

Building manager

Cabinet maker

Carpenter

Electrician

Energy efficiency expert

General contractor

HVAC technician

Project manager

Engineer

Energy technician

Iron/Metal worker

Plumber

Welder

For Students And Parents:

To see what construction-related programs your county vocational-technical school offers, find your school.

For Adult Students:

To find construction-related career training opportunities at county vocational-technical schools near you, use the “Find Adult Career Programs” tool.

For More Information About Careers In Construction and Architecture:

O*Net Online has comprehensive information on all types of jobs, including surveys that help people find careers they might enjoy.

Access the Build Your Future website, created by the National Center for Construction Education and Research to provide a valuable resource for anyone considering a career in architecture or the technical trades.

View videos on career pathways in the construction industry:

From US Department of Labor Career One-Stop:
https://www.careeronestop.org/Videos/IndustryVideos/architecture-and-construction-overview.aspx
https://www.careeronestop.org/videos/careeronestop-videos.aspx?videocode=49902100
https://www.careeronestop.org/videos/careeronestop-videos.aspx?videocode=47211100
https://www.careeronestop.org/Videos/CareerVideos/career-videos.aspx

From Working Nation, learn about careers in Construction Management:
https://workingnation.com/i-want-that-job-construction-manager/

Construction Technology and Architecture News

Read more news about Construction Technology and Architecture

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