Saskatchewan JobFutures

Nature of Work

Construction managers plan, organize, direct and control the operations and activities of construction companies or departments. They work under the direction of general managers or other senior managers and are employed by residential, commercial and industrial construction companies or by construction departments of companies outside the construction industry.

Nature of Work

Construction managers plan, organize, direct and control the operations and activities of construction companies or departments. They work under the direction of general managers or other senior managers and are employed by residential, commercial and industrial construction companies or by construction departments of companies outside the construction industry.

Duties

Construction managers see construction projects to completion according to schedule, specifications and budget. This involves preparing and submitting construction budget estimates, planning and preparing construction schedules and milestones, and monitoring progress against established schedules. Their duties may also include developing and implementing quality control programs, preparing contracts and progress reports for clients; directing the purchase of materials and land acquisitions; and negotiating revisions to contractual agreements with architects, consultants, clients, suppliers and subcontractors.

Managers in the construction industry may represent their company or department on business services, union contracts and other such matters. They may also be responsible for hiring, supervising, training and evaluating subcontractors and subordinate staff.

Example Titles

• project manager, construction
• residential construction manager
• commercial construction manager
• industrial construction manager
• pipeline construction manager
• construction manager
• construction superintendent
• housing construction manager
• general contractor

Training Paths

A university degree in civil engineering or a college diploma in construction technology is usually required. A master's degree in project management may be required by some employers. Several years of experience in the construction industry, including experience as a construction supervisor or field superintendent, are usually required. Extensive experience in the construction industry may substitute for post-secondary education requirements. Some employers may require professional engineering status or construction trade certification. U of S offers undergraduate and graduate Civil Engineering degree programs and SIAST a diploma program in Civil Engineering Technology. The classroom portion of a carpenter apprenticeship can also be taken at SIAST.

Trends and Outlooks

The employment prospects for this occupation are: good

The number of construction managers in Saskatchewan decreased by 15% between 2001 and 2006. However, this remains a large occupation in the province. According to the Census, there were more than 1,300 managers in this category in 2006. Not surprisingly, much of the future growth expected in this group will occur in the construction industry, primarily due to retirement or other turnover in the current work force.

Managers in construction and transportation are generally well paid. The average annual income for full-time managers in 2005 was $107,763. This marks an incredible 68% increase from 2000 and remains considerably higher than the 2005 provincial average annual income for all occupations ($42,298 per year).

There is a fairly even distribution of managers throughout the province. Just over half of all managers in this group worked in or around Saskatoon or Regina in 2006. However, the number of male managers working in the province is disproportionate to the number of females; in 2006, 94% of construction managers in the province were male, only a slight decrease from 2001.

Employment in these occupations is highly sensitive to overall economic conditions. As well, the work of most managers changes seasonally. Most construction managers, for example, supervise more projects and employ more workers during the summer months. Still, employment is usually full year for managers in this group. Provincially, 69% of all construction and transportation managers worked full time, full year in 2005.

Advances in building materials, the development of "smart buildings" and the proliferation of new building standards will continue to make the work of construction managers more complex. Similarly, the use of computerized technologies in the transportation industry, such as electronic inventory control and tracking systems, will compel transportation managers to develop skills in information systems.

Professional Associations

Related Occupations

• Residential Home Builders and Renovators (0712)
• Senior Managers - Goods Production, Utilities, Transportation and Construction (0016)