Why Join the Roofing Industry

Roofing is a great career for people who want rewarding work that makes an impact in their community. When we say roofing professional, it’s the craftspeople that often come to mind. But professionals in this industry wear many different hats, and a hard hat is just one of them! There are jobs for craftspeople, mathematicians, engineers, techies, thrill seekers, artists, rock climbers, detectives and more.

And not only is roofing a rewarding industry, it’s a great career path. Did you know…

Roofing offers a path free of student loan debt as there are often no upfront costs involved in getting started.
You can build a strong and successful career in the roofing industry. Not only are there countless growth opportunities, but most employers also offer benefits right away.
Once you start learning your trade, you can rest easy knowing you have a job; the roofing industry is always looking for new talent!
Safety is the highest priority. Roofing contractors’ first job is ensuring everyone goes home safe and healthy every day.
You do not need a special education. Roofing is a hands-on job and most employers will train you.

Simply put, roofing is a great opportunity – out in the field or in the office.

Beyond the roof: Career options

Like we mentioned above, the roofing industry extends beyond the roof! Here’s a quick overview of some of the different jobs you can find in roofing:

With the crew: If you want a career that let’s you do physical work with your hands, joining a roofing crew and getting out in the field might be the right fit for you.
In the shop: Interested in machinery and engineering? A huge part of the roofing industry is shop work – with tasks such as metal bending to form gutters – this is a great opportunity for reliable, self-motivated people.
Office careers: Not so sure about getting on the roof, but looking for a way to work in a close team? Consider applying for an office job at a roofing company. There are many roles within the office that could use your skills, whether those are marketing, organization, customer service or something else!
Sales and estimating: Are you interested in technology, mathematics and the nitty-gritty details? You might be a good candidate for a roofing estimating or sales team! These are the people who are on the ground connecting with customers and making sure all the ducks are in a row before the roofing crew heads out.
Manufacturing and distribution: Have some innovative ideas about how to make processes and products better? Manufacturing and distribution are all about pushing the boundaries further to create the next best product or service. If you want to be part of the future of roofing, this is a great space to work in.

Get involved through SkillsUSA

So, now you have an idea of everything the roofing industry can offer you. But how do you get started? A great option is to see if there are any SkillsUSA programs around you!

SkillsUSA is “a workforce development organization that represents more than 400,000 career and technical education students and teachers.” Founded in the 1960s, this program gives students a chance to learn and compete in regional, state and national contests that help them network with professionals across the trades.

Through collaborations with leading industry organizations like National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), roofing is now featured in two SkillsUSA competitions: Teamworks and Commercial Roofing. The former sees teams of “four build freestanding structures with asphalt shingle mockups where the Commercial Roofing competition has students follow NRCA PROCertification® standards while installing single-ply membranes.”

If your company is interested in training students in roofing and sending them to a SkillsUSA competition, NRCA can help you start a roofing program. For any questions about building a career in roofing contact NRCA Director of Workforce Development Shane Muncy.

Resources

Get fast facts about the world of roofing with resources from NRCA!

Explore all the resources online.

Find your place

Do you have what it takes to work in the roofing industry?

You can explore current jobs available right here on RCS! You can also place a FREE work wanted listing (use code WORK) and that will get you in front of roofing companies nationwide.