A new survey of contractors and consumers found that roofing is perceived as the most physically demanding construction trade, while electrical work seems to be the most difficult to master.
CraftJack, a contractor lead service, surveyed 1,609 contractors and 652 consumers, asking them to rank 32 contractor job types based on how difficult they are to master and to perform. Contractors and consumers seemed to mostly agree on the hardest jobs.
Thirteen percent of contractors said roofing was the most demanding job and 23% responded that electrical work was the hardest to master. Meanwhile 20% of consumers surveyed deemed roofing the most physically demanding and 38% said electrical work seemed the hardest to master.
While consumers and contractors agreed that roofing and demolition are the most physically demanding trades, contractors voted carpentry as the third-most physically demanding trade.
The survey also asked what sort of work is most difficult to master and both consumers and contractors rated electrical, carpentry, HVAC, and cabinets/countertops at the top.
Finally, CraftJack asked contractors if they find their own trade the most challenging, both in terms of physical demands and the threshold for mastery.
“Interestingly, contractors don’t believe painting, carpet cleaning, and electrical work to be very physically demanding… unless it’s their specialty,” the report concluded.
