By George Gartsonis and Mike Koschick

Would you like a career that pays well, is in high demand, lets you work with your hands and rewards your efforts with immediate results? In the last decade, the construction industry has realized average wage increases of more than 60 percent, and the continued vitality of the building boom in southeastern Michigan translates into job security for those who know their trusses from their T-squares. New home building is thriving. But growth in the construction industry is not limited to single-family homes. The civil and commercial construction markets in Michigan are booming and should remain strong.

New projects mean new jobs

In 1999, for the third year in a row, Michigan led the nation in new plants and expansions with 2,174 major new projects. In addition, again for the third year in a row, the Detroit region was the country’s top metro area, attracting 1,133 new or expanded facilities. In the past seven years alone, more than $9 billion has been invested in construction projects in Oakland County, according to the County’s December 2000 Environmental Scan.

 Somebody’s got to be doing all this building.

But during the year 2000, unemployment hovered around 3.0 percent, the lowest in nearly three decades. "We have jobs going begging," affirms Barbara Bolin, director of the Michigan Department of Career Development. "It’s a great opportunity (for those looking for a good job). All that’s needed is training and a little experience."

Get training and experience at OCC
You can get that training at experience at OCC through a variety of construction technology programs.

Carpenter-Framer
In the past five years, more than 450 students have participated in a program pioneered by OCC and the Building Industry Association to train carpenter-framers. In this fast-track, 18-week program, students receive free tuition, books and $300 worth of hand tools. They spend 10 percent of their time in class learning blueprint reading, building code requirements and construction-related math. The balance of the time is spent in the field working under master carpenters, building three to four homes ranging from 1100 to 3000 square feet. After 18 weeks of full-time training, students are prepared to interview for positions with the area’s 2500 builders. Educational entry requirements for the program include a high school diploma or GED, a 9th grade reading level and 6th grade math level; in addition, students must be able to lift 50 pounds, not be afraid of heights and have reliable transportation.

Construction Management
OCC’s construction management option of the college’s management development program leads to an Associate in Applied Science Degree and qualifies graduates for entry-and mid-level jobs in the booming general contracting field. "I’m getting calls constantly from construction companies desperate for trained personnel, particularly for assistant estimators, assistant project managers and specialists in ecologically safe demolitions," says program coordinator Pam Jackson. Typical kinds of jobs for which OCC graduates qualify include scheduling, planning, surveying, construction safety and project manager assistance. The construction management program is a partnership between OCC and Eastern Michigan University (EMU), in cooperation with major construction associations. Classes include business law, principles of management, computer applications, accounting, construction systems surveying, construction safety and analysis of commercial prints. A unique aspect of the 62-credit program is that 20 hours of major requirements toward the Associate Degree are taken through EMU – all at OCC’s Orchard Ridge Campus in Farmington Hills. OCC graduates are able to transfer up to 100 credits toward a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction from EMU. For more information, call 248-341- 2346, then make an appointment with the Orchard Ridge Campus Counseling Department.

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