580 Technology: Engineering Our World Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. A career is an occupation, or a way of making a living. Perhaps more importantly, a career provides a person with a sense of purpose in their life as well as satisfaction from making a positive contribution to society. Farmers plant, fertilize, cultivate, and harvest crops. Engineers design new and innovative products, research new technologies, and analyze products and ideas. Forestry workers cut, transport, and process trees for papermaking, construction, and furniture manufacturing. Geologists locate minerals and fossil fuels. Miners operate the machinery to extract raw materials. Oceanographers study the plant and animal life of the oceans. Environmentalists try to fi nd solutions to problems relating to land use, pollution, conservation of natural resources, and the preservation of wildlife. Career Opportunities In the twentieth century, most people in North America were employed full time in manufacturing, construction, or service careers. Many people are still employed in these careers, but the numbers are lower than in past years. Those who work in manufacturing may be assembly workers employed on production lines, or engineers carrying out research to fi nd new technologies that will improve production. Many service the robots and other automated machinery that now do much of the repetitive or dangerous work. Market research analysts determine the need for new and existing products. Management personnel oversee the production or construction process. They also help ensure that the workplace is safe for workers. People who work in the construction industry are responsible for planning and building structures. They may work on homes, bridges, dams, hospitals, highways, and shopping centers. Skilled workers specialize in a trade. Examples include carpenters, plumbers, and roofi ng specialists. Civil engineers and surveyors perform many different tasks. They design and lay out structures, estimate costs, and prepare material specifi cations. They survey building sites and organize work schedules. Construction managers supervise the building process to ensure that the structure follows approved plans. In recent years, there has been a shift to more service-oriented careers. People in these careers may work in tech support, customer service, or as receptionists (Figure 20-1). Some service-related jobs are offered through the federal, state, or local government. These include public health services and public works facilities. Public works departments take care of many services we take for granted. For example, they keep the streets repaired and clear snow from the streets in winter. Bojan Milinkov/Shutterstock.com Figure 20-1. A helpdesk operator must have good verbal and people skills.