Ten years ago, the construction industry faced a major challenge. The sector that drove forward Ireland’s economic growth during the Celtic Tiger had crashed and with it, the depletion of the industry occurred. Fast-forward 10 years and the industry has more than found its feet again.

With 1,000 jobs created in construction each month for the last two years, it is now Ireland’s fasting-growing sector. According to the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), Ireland’s construction industry’s representative body, the current opportunities for students or those wishing to enter the sector are plentiful.

Conor O’Connell, CIF regional director, has worked in this area for 20 years. He believes that the industry is on an upward trajectory.

“At the moment, there is significant growth in the sector and the demand for workers is high,” says Conor.

“The sector is seeking skilled labour and the opportunities are significant. Progression for workers in the industry can be one of the main attractions. Those successful in the industry have more than likely begun as craftsmen or have done apprenticeships. From here, they can become site managers or begin their own business. There are lots of opportunities in the industry to progress. It is unique in this way, I would argue.”

The industry today

While the construction sector is on an upward trend, the property crash of a decade ago which halted the sector on the island has left a slight hesitancy there.

“People in the industry would be reluctant to say the boom is back. What we want is a sustainable industry. We want to return to a sustainable level of construction output in Ireland,” says Conor.

Across the continent, construction is contributing to a higher GDP than in Ireland. This sector contributes to between 16% and 18% of GDP on average in the EU and rising from 10% to 12% in Ireland, according to the CIF Director. While Ireland’s industry is growing, Conor believes the potential to increase sustainably is huge.

How does one enter the industry?

As employment shrunk during the recession years, more people find themselves being drawn back into construction. Today, Conor believes they are seeing more people changing their career path back to the sector.

For those wanting to enter the construction industry, now may be a good time. The recovery stage is over and the growth stage is well under way. But how does one enter the industry and what routes are available?

Apprenticeships

The normal route for a would-be apprentice begins by a person expressing an interest in entering the industry via an apprenticeship. The candidate would go to a local contractor seeking a job as an apprentice. An employer would then register the apprentice with Solace. Over the next four years, they are required to perform on-the-job and off-the-job training. Off-the-job training would be held in a designated Institute of Technology or a SOLAS centre. One can look at apprenticeships online at both apprenticeship.ie and apprentices.ie or for a wide range of jobs in the industry, see www.cifjobs.ie.

PAY

Craft apprentices get paid during their training. The rates of pay can vary, depending on the apprenticeship and on employer. Generally, rates will rise as you gain more skills. Ask your prospective employer about these rates of pay. A craft apprentice allowance is paid during off-the-job training. Sometimes, you will also get a contribution towards travel or accommodation costs if appropriate. CL