Construction Laborers
Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers.
- Overview
- Tasks
- Skills
Median Annual Wage: $31,090
Education: High school diploma or equivalent (70%); Less than high school diploma (23%); Post-secondary certificate (6%)
Projected Growth: Much faster than average (22% or higher)
Related Job Titles: Construction Worker; Laborer; Construction Laborer; Helper; Post Framer; Curb and Gutter Laborer; Drain Layer; Drop Crew Laborer; Skill Labor; Union Laborer
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Construction Laborers.
- Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards.
- Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials.
- Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.
- Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.
- Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
- Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, or compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, or rakes.
- Mix, pour, or spread concrete, using portable cement mixers.
- Tend pumps, compressors, or generators to provide power for tools, machinery, or equipment or to heat or move materials, such as asphalt.
- Erect or dismantle scaffolding, shoring, braces, traffic barricades, ramps, or other temporary structures.
- Provide assistance to craft workers, such as carpenters, plasterers, or masons.
- Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.
- Position or dismantle forms for pouring concrete, using saws, hammers, nails, or bolts.
- Smooth or finish freshly poured cement or concrete, using floats, trowels, screeds, or powered cement finishing tools.
- Operate jackhammers or drills to break up concrete or pavement.
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Construction Laborers.
- Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Construction Laborers.
