Program Description

Students in the Construction Technology program develop skills in three areas: house carpentry, millwork, and cabinetmaking. Students also work to improve their skills in academic areas with the integration of vocational and technical subjects taught in the related technology classes. Computer-aided drafting is introduced and utilized on projects in the carpentry shop.

In the millwork division, students learn to safely use machines and develop the skills necessary for the fundamental procedures used. They study joint construction, clamping, gluing, and staining and finishing of wood. They also study layout, costing of jobs, and economically using time and material. Carpentry students learn house construction, roofing, siding, and window installation, and get experience installing sheathing, side walling and insulation. Other topics studied include in-depth layout and framing and methods of trimming and finishing window and door units.

• U.S. Department of Labor Statistics
• Job opportunities should be good. Employment is affected by the cyclical nature of the construction industry and varies greatly by state and locality.
• Construction workers held about one million jobs in 2004. Many were concentrated in metropolitan areas. About 15 percent were self-employed in 2004.
• Median hourly earnings of construction workers in May 2004 were $12.10. The highest 10 percent earned more than $23.61 an hour.
• Pay typically increases as apprentices gain experience and learn new skills.
• (Employment facts from the Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/OCO)

Program Placement
Construction Technology students have gone on to work for Rudy Langner Construction Company, Poncia Construction, Jackson Building and Remodeling, Metropolitan Cabinet & Countertops, and John Mellon Construction. These are just a few examples of places where students from Construction Technology have worked.