top of page
Image by Jeriden Villegas

Career Pathways in the Trades:
Construction, Manufacturing & Engineering

Do you have technical or hands-on skills? Like to work with tools, machines, computers or people? Do you enjoy making a design or plan become a  reality? A career in construction, manufacturing, architecture, or engineering might be a good fit for you. Curious about training options and apprenticeships?

Working on Fuse Box

Construction

Examples of careers:

  • Carpenter

  • Electrician

  • Plumbers, Steamfitters & Sheet Metal

  • Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC)

  • Grading & Paving

  • Foreman, Project Manager, Construction Manager

  • Quality Assurance & Safety

Adjusting a Model

Architecture & Engineering

Examples of careers:

  • Computer Aided Drafter (CAD)

  • Project Engineer

  • Electrical Engineer

  • Civil Engineer

  • Industrial or Mechanical Engineer

  • Architect

  • Landscape Architect

  • Virtual Design & Construction (VDC)

A Man Welding

Manufacturing

Examples of careers:

  • Welding

  • Machining

  • Computer Numerical Control Machine Operator

  • Millwright

  • Assembly

  • Robotics

  • Quality Assurance

​​

Working on Fuse Box

Related Careers

Examples of careers:

  • Project Estimator

  • Sales & Marketing

  • Finance

  • Human Resources

  • Information Technology

  • Mechanic Maintenance

  • Contracts & Risk Management

  • Surveyor

​

​

​

​

​

Career Videos

Career Journeys contains videos of Oregonians talking about their careers.  Each career has a short video and a longer question & answer section.

​

Career One Stop provides an excellent library of career videos

 

Dr. Kit Career Videos: Excellent library: Architecture & Construction, Manufacturing, STEM & Shipbuilding.

Pacific Northwest Carpenters Institute videos: Carpenters, Interior/Exterior Specialists, Scaffold Erectors, Millwrights, and Pile Drivers.

​

Oregon Tradeswomen videos: Carpenters, Electricians, Ironworkers, Lineworkers, Plumbers, Sprinlerfitters, and Green Trades.

Student Experiences

A great way to explore whether an academic and career path is a good fit for you is to find opportunities to get real world experience early on in your journey. Below are some options in Central Oregon for students to get first-hand experience in health care careers.

Scholarships

​

More Info

Build Oregon Industry Scholarships 

 

Scroll down website to find construction industry scholarships.

Degrees & Certificate Training Programs

Students can earn certificates and degrees at community colleges and universities to advance their skills and careers in manufacturing, welding, engineering, construction, architecture, and many related fields and trades. Students can choose from short term training programs to more advanced degrees. 

Apprenticeships

Registered Apprenticeships provide occupational training that combine paid, on-the-job experience and classroom instruction. There are many apprenticeship pathways in the skilled trades, including: construction, electrician, plumbing, HVAC, millwright and so many more.

bottom of page