Career Options
Becoming a Carpenter, Electrician, HVAC Technician, or Plumber/Pipefitter

Carpenter

The largest construction trade in 1996 with 996,000 workers, nearly one-third of whom were self-employed.

Although employment is expected to grow slowly, job opportunities should be excellent because high turnover rates create many job openings.

Carpenters with skills in all aspects of carpentry work the most steadily because they have the versatility to perform whatever types of jobs are available.

Nature of the Work
Carpenters are involved in many different kinds of construction. They cut, fit, and assemble wood and other materials for buildings, highways, bridges, industrial plants, and many other structures.

Their duties vary by employer. A carpenter employed by a special trade contractor may specialize in one or two activities, such as setting forms for concrete construction or erecting scaffolding. However, a carpenter employed by a general building contractor may frame walls and partitions, put in doors and windows, hang kitchen cabinets, and install paneling and tile ceilings.

Local building codes often dictate where certain materials can be used, and carpenters must know these requirements.

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Working from blueprints or instructions from supervisors, carpenters first measure, mark, and arrange materials for the layout. Then, they cut, shape and join the materials with nails, screws, staples, or adhesives. Finally, they check the accuracy of their work.

Training
Carpenters learn their trade through on-the-job training and through formal training programs. Some pick up skills informally by working under the supervision of experienced workers. Many acquire skills through vocational education. Others participate in employer training programs or apprenticeships.

Electrician

Job opportunities are expected to be very good for qualified electricians.

Most people acquire their skills by completing a formal four or five-year apprenticeship program.

In contrast to other construction trades, about a third of all electricians work in industries other than construction.

Nature of the Work
Electricians install, connect, test, and maintain electrical systems for a variety of purposes, including climate control, security, and communications. Most electricians specialize in either construction or maintenance, but a growing number do both.

Electricians work with blueprints when they install electrical systems in factories, homes, and other structures. They must follow the National Electric Code as well as State and local building codes when installing these systems.

In addition to wiring a buildings electrical system, electricians may install coaxial or fiber optic cable for computers and other telecommunications equipment. They also may connect motors to electrical power and install electronic controls for industrial equipment.

Maintenance electricians spend much of their time in preventive maintenance. They periodically inspect equipment, and locate and correct problems before breakdowns occur.

Training
Most people learn the electrical trade by completing a four or five year apprenticeship program. Apprenticeship gives trainees a thorough knowledge of all aspects of the trade and generally improves their job outlook.

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) and Refrigeration Technician

Opportunities should be very good for technicians with technical school or formal apprenticeship training.

Technicians need a basic understanding of microelectronics as they increasingly install and service equipment with electronic controls.

Nature of the Work
Heating and air-conditioning systems control the temperature, humidity, and the total air quality in residential, commercial, industrial, and other buildings. Refrigeration systems make it possible to store and transport food, medicine, and other perishable items. Heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration technicians install, maintain, and repair such systems.

Heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration systems consist of many mechanical, electrical, and electronic components including motors, compressors, pumps, fans, ducts, pipes, thermostats, and switches. Technicians must be able to maintain, diagnose, and correct problems throughout the entire system.

Technicians may work for large or small contracting companies or directly for a manufacturer or wholesaler. Those working for smaller operations tend to do both installation and servicing, and work with heating, cooling, and refrigeration equipment.

Training
Because of the increasing sophistication of heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration systems, employers prefer to hire those with technical school or apprenticeship training. A sizable number of technicians, however, still learn the trade informally on the job.

Plumbers and Pipefitters

Although employment is projected to increase slowly, job opportunities should be excellent due to low numbers of people training in the field.

Training is usually through a four - five year apprenticeship program.

Plumbers and pipefitters are one of the larger, as well as higher paid, construction occupations.

Nature of the Work
Most people are familiar with plumbers who unclog drains or install appliances. In addition to these activities, plumbers and pipefitters install, maintain, and repair many different types of pipe systems.

Although plumbing and pipefitting are sometimes considered a single trade, workers generally specialize in one or the other. Plumbers install and repair the water, waste disposal, drainage, and gas systems in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. They also install plumbing fixtures and appliances.

Pipefitters install and repair both high and low-pressure pipe systems that are used in manufacturing, in the generation of electricity, and in heating and cooling buildings. They also install automatic controls that are increasingly being used to regulate these systems.

Training
Virtually all plumbers undergo apprenticeship training. Many programs are administered by local union-management committees (members of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada), as well as local employers.

Information from the 1998-99 Occupational Outlook Handbook, Outlook for Specific Occupations, U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.