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Job Report Construction Managers
Nature of the Work
Construction managers may assume various levels of responsibility and are known
by a wide range of job titles that are often used interchangeably -- for example, construction
superintendent, constructor, production manager, project manager, general construction
manager, executive construction manager, contractor, subcontractor, and general
contractor. Construction managers may be either salaried employees or self-employed
workers under contract with the owner, contractor, developer, or management firm
overseeing the construction project. In addition, within the construction industry, the term
construction manager is often used to denote the firm -- usually a contract construction
company or a construction management services firm -- involved in the construction activity.
This Career Report discusses supervisory level salaried and self-employed
construction managers who oversee construction supervisors and workers. Supervisory
level construction managers report to mid-level and top-level construction managers, who
are included in the Career Report on Executives.
On small construction projects -- for example, remodeling a home -- construction
managers are usually self-employed construction contractors who directly oversee their
employees. However, large construction projects -- for example, an industrial complex --
are divided into many segments: Site preparation, including land clearing, sewage
systems, landscaping, and road construction; building construction, including excavation,
laying foundations, erection of frameworks, and adding floors, walls, and roofs; or
installation of building services, including carpentry, electrical, plumbing, air-conditioning,
and heating. Salaried construction managers plan, direct, and complete their assigned part
of the overall construction project.
Construction managers determine the appropriate construction methods and
schedule all required construction activities in logical, discrete steps, each leading to an
intermediate objective. They estimate the time required to complete each step in an effort
to meet established budgets and deadlines for particular construction projects.
Construction managers determine the labor requirements and, if necessary, supervise or
monitor the hiring and dismissal of engineers, cost estimators, clerks, construction
supervisors, craft workers, machinery and equipment operators, and other construction
workers. Planning, often in collaboration with engineers, architects, and other design
professionals, may require sophisticated analytical techniques such as the critical path
method (CPM) -- a standardized presentation of the time sequence of the work showing
where construction activities might be disrupted -- supplemented by flow charts, bar charts,
and other graphic presentation. Computers are used to evaluate various construction
methods and determine the most cost-efficient and timesaving plan.
On the job, construction managers direct construction supervisors and monitor the
progress of construction activities including the delivery and use of supplies, tools,
machinery, equipment, and vehicles. They are responsible for all necessary permits and
licenses and, depending upon the contractual arrangements, direct or monitor compliance
with safety codes and other labor or union regulations.
Construction managers regularly review engineering and architectural drawings and
specifications and confer with construction engineers to maintain the rate of construction
activity. They meet with cost estimators to monitor construction costs and avoid overruns.
Based upon direct observation and reports by subordinate supervisors, construction
managers may prepare daily reports of progress and requirements for labor, material, and
machinery and equipment at the construction site. Construction managers meet regularly
with owners, other construction managers, and design professions to monitor and
synchronize all phases of the construction project.
Working Conditions
Construction managers work out of a central office -- often spacious and orderly,
where the overall construction project is monitored -- and the construction site office --
usually small and crowded with workers streaming in and out, where management
decisions regarding daily construction activities are made. Substantial travel may be
required when the construction site is in another State, and overseas projects may entail
temporary residence in another country.
The standard 40-hour week is rare in this occupation, since construction may
proceed round-the-clock for days or even weeks to meet deadlines. In addition,
construction managers are always "on call" to deal with accidents, delays, or complications
caused by bad weather at the site.
Although the work generally is not considered dangerous, construction managers
must be alert touring construction sites, especially when machinery, equipment, and
vehicles are operating. The pace can be hectic, and construction managers must be
prepared to answer questions and assign priorities quickly.
Employment
Construction managers held about 189,000 jobs in 1990. About 9 out 10 were
employed in the contract construction industry, primarily by special trade contractors -- for
example, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning, and electrical -- and general building
contractors. Other employers included local governments, educational institutions, real
estate developers, and engineering, architectural, surveying, and construction management
services firms. In addition, thousands of self-employed contractors worked as construction
managers, primarily in the special trades contract construction industries.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
An increasing proportion of entrants into this occupation acquire a strong academic
background. completion of a bachelor's degree program in construction science with
emphasis on construction management can greatly enhance one's opportunities in this
occupation. In 1990, about 75 colleges and universities offered such programs, which
include courses in project control and development, site planning, construction materials,
building design, construction methods, value analysis, cost estimating, scheduling, contract
administration, building codes and standards, inspection procedures, and electives in
engineering and architectural sciences, mathematics, statistics, and computer science.
Recent college graduates in construction science usually are hired as assistants to
construction managers, field engineers, schedulers, or cost estimators. A growing number
of graduates in related fields -- engineers, architects, and cost estimators -- also enter
construction management, often after having worked as supervisors on construction
projects.
About 15 colleges and universities also offer a master's degree program, and one,
the University of Florida, offers a doctoral degree program in this field. Master's degree
recipients, especially those with experience, typically become construction managers in
very large construction companies. Doctoral degree recipients generally become college
teachers.
Many construction managers have substantial experience as construction crafts
workers -- for example, carpenters, masons, plumbers, or electricians -- and proven
supervisory ability. Many have worked as construction supervisors or small, self-employed
contractors overseeing workers in one or more construction activities -- for example,
structural steel work, roofing, or excavation. Many have also attended training and
educational programs sponsored by industry associations, usually in collaboration with
postsecondary institutions. In 1990, over 200 2-year colleges offered construction
management or construction technology programs.
Persons interested in becoming construction managers should be flexible and able
to work under stressful conditions. They should be decisive and able to select quickly
among alternative courses of action. The ability to coordinate several activities and
speedily analyze and resolve specific problems is imperative. The ability to rapidly evaluate
engineering, architectural, and other construction drawings is important. Construction
managers must be able to establish effective working relationships, with many different
people -- entrepreneurs, managers, professions, supervisors, and blue-collar workers.
They must also be able to assess the character and competency of workers in order to
achieve an efficient working group.
Advancement depends upon the size of the construction company. In large
companies, construction managers may become mid-level and eventually top-level
managers. Highly experienced individuals may become consultants; some sere as expert
witnesses in court or arbitrators in disputes. Those with the required capital may establish
their own firms and offer construction management services. Others may establish their
own general contract construction firms that oversee construction projects from start to
finish -- including project planning and design, construction, and management.
Job Outlook
Employment of construction managers is expected to increase faster than the
average for all occupations through the year 2000 as construction projects increase in size
and complexity. Advances in building materials and construction methods and the growing
number of multipurpose buildings, electronically operated "smart" buildings, and energy-
efficient structures will require the expertise of more construction managers. In addition,
the proliferation of laws setting standards for buildings and construction materials, worker
safety, energy efficiency, and environmental pollution has further complicated the
construction manager's job and should further increase demand for these workers.
Many job openings for construction managers will arise in nonresidential construction
firms and special trade contractor establishments offering maintenance and repair services
for buildings and building equipment. Although employment in residential construction firms
is expected to grow more slowly than in other sectors of the construction industry, many
openings should result from the need to replace workers who leave the occupation or retire.
Demand is expected to be particularly favorable -- especially in the rapidly proliferating
construction management services firms -- for experienced construction managers with a
bachelor's degree in construction science with emphasis on construction management.
Employment of construction managers is sensitive to the short-term nature of many
construction projects and cyclical fluctuations in construction activity. During periods of
diminished construction activity -- when many construction workers are laid off -- many
construction managers remain employed in their own or other firms planning, scheduling,
or estimating costs of future construction projects. However, some self-employed
contractors may merge operations or dissolve their business and seek salaried employment
with other contractors.
Earnings
Earnings of salaried construction managers and incomes of self-employed
contractors vary depending upon the size and nature of the construction project, its
geographic location, and economic conditions. Based on limited information, starting
salaries of construction managers in 1990 were about $21,200 to $31,800; annual of most
experienced construction managers ranged from $31,800 to $106,000. Many salaried
construction managers receive fringe benefits such as bonuses, liberal motor vehicle
allowances, and per diem allowances. The income of self-employed contractors varies
even more widely than that of salaried managers.
Related Occupations
Construction managers participate in the conceptual development of a construction
project and organize, schedule, and oversee its implementation. Others whose work entails
similar functions include architects, builders, civil engineers, construction supervisors, cost
engineers, cost estimators, developers, electrical engineers, industrial engineers,
landscaping architects, and mechanical engineers.
Sources of Information
Information about construction managers and construction management services
firms is available from:
Construction Management Association of America, Suite 640, 12355 Sunrise
Valley Dr., Reston, VA 22091.
For information about careers in construction management, contact:
American Institute of Constructors, 20 S. Front St., Columbus, OH 43215.
Associated Builders and Contractors, 729 15th St., NW, Washington, D.C.
20005.
For information about construction management in contract construction operations,
contact:
Associated General contractors of America, 1957 E. St., NW, Washington,
D.C. 20006.
Names of postsecondary institutions offering educational programs in construction
management and related fields are available from:
Associated Schools of Construction, 20 S. Front St., Columbus, OH 43215.
Information on construction science and management programs accreditation
requirements is available from:
American Council for Construction Education, Suite 700, 1015 15th St. NW,
Washington, D.C. 20005.
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