Construction Laborers

Career Description: Perform tasks involving physical labor at building, highway, and heavy construction projects, tunnel and shaft excavations, and demolition 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, clean up rubble and debris, and remove asbestos, lead, and other hazardous waste materials. May assist other craft workers.

Industry: Construction and Extraction

Other Job Titles for Construction Laborers:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Clean and prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards.
• Read and interpret plans, instructions, and specifications to determine work activities.
• Control traffic passing near, in, and around work zones.
• Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, and adjustment of machinery, equipment, and materials.
• Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, and compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, and rakes.
• Position, join, align, and seal structural components, such as concrete wall sections and pipes.
• Measure, mark, and record openings and distances to lay out areas where construction work will be performed.
• Load, unload, and identify building materials, machinery, and tools, and distribute them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans and specifications.
• Erect and disassemble scaffolding, shoring, braces, traffic barricades, ramps, and other temporary structures.
• Build and position forms for pouring concrete, and dismantle forms after use, using saws, hammers, nails, or bolts.
• Lubricate, clean, and repair machinery, equipment, and tools.
• Operate jackhammers and drills to break up concrete or pavement.
• Smooth and finish freshly poured cement or concrete, using floats, trowels, screeds, or powered cement finishing tools.
• Operate, read, and maintain air monitoring and other sampling devices in confined and/or hazardous environments.
• Install sewer, water, and storm drain pipes, using pipe-laying machinery and laser guidance equipment.
• Transport and set explosives for tunnel, shaft, and road construction.
• Provide assistance to craft workers, such as carpenters, plasterers, and masons.
• Tend pumps, compressors, and generators to provide power for tools, machinery, and equipment, or to heat and move materials such as asphalt.
• Mop, brush, or spread paints, cleaning solutions, or other compounds over surfaces to clean them or to provide protection.
• Place, consolidate, and protect case-in-place concrete or masonry structures.
• Identify, pack, and transport hazardous and/or radioactive materials.
• Use computers and other input devices to control robotic pipe cutters and cleaners.
• Shovel cement and other materials into portable cement mixers; and mix, pour, and spread concrete.
• Grind, scrape, sand, or polish surfaces such as concrete, marble, terrazzo, or wood flooring, using abrasive tools or machines.
• Tend machines that pump concrete, grout, cement, sand, plaster or stucco through spray-guns for application to ceilings and walls.
• Mix ingredients to create compounds for covering or cleaning surfaces.
• Raze buildings and salvage useful materials.
• Spray materials such as water, sand, steam, vinyl, paint, or stucco through hoses to clean, coat, or seal surfaces.
• Apply caulking compounds by hand or using caulking guns.

Emerging Tasks

• Clean up before and after installation, including vacuuming carpet and discarding remnant pieces.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• adhere to safety procedures
• anchor or brace wooden structures, frameworks, or forms
• apply adhesives, caulking, sealants, or coatings
• apply cleaning solvents
• apply plaster, stucco or related material
• assemble and install pipe sections, fittings, or plumbing fixtures
• assist mechanic, or extractive or construction trades craft worker
• build or repair structures in construction, repair, or manufacturing setting
• clean equipment or machinery
• clean rooms or work areas
• climb ladders, scaffolding, or utility or telephone poles
• control operation of compressors
• cut, shape, fit, or join wood or other construction materials
• dig holes or trenches for foundations, posts, poles, or related items
• erect scaffold
• fabricate, assemble, or disassemble manufactured products by hand
• finish concrete surfaces
• grade or redistribute earth for roads or other construction
• install insulating materials
• install prefabricated building components
• install siding or sheeting
• load, unload, or stack containers, materials, or products
• lubricate machinery, equipment, or parts
• maintain or repair construction machinery or equipment
• measure and mark lay out for construction projects
• mix mortar, grout, slurry, concrete, or related masonry material
• mix paint, ingredients, or chemicals, according to specifications
• move materials or goods between work areas
• move or fit heavy objects
• operate floor sanding machine
• operate hoist, winch, or hydraulic boom
• operate jackhammer
• operate land or site surveying instruments
• operate pneumatic tamper to patch pavement or tamp earth
• operate power construction equipment
• operate power driven pumps
• paint walls or other structural surfaces
• perform safety inspections in construction or resource extraction setting
• position, align, or level machines, equipment, or structures
• prepare building surfaces for paint, finishes, wallpaper, or adhesives
• prepare site or surfaces for concrete or masonry work
• read tape measure
• read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
• repair cracks, defects, or damage in installed building materials
• signal directions or warnings to coworkers
• understand construction specifications
• use basic carpentry techniques
• use concrete fabrication techniques
• use hand or power tools
• use hand or power woodworking tools
• use hazardous disposal techniques
• use hazardous materials information
• use measuring devices in construction or extraction work
• use spray paint equipment
• use surfacing machine to polish terrazzo or concrete
• verify levelness or verticality, using level or plumb bob
• work as a team member
• understand construction specifications
• use basic carpentry techniques
• use basic plumbing techniques
• use building materials for routine building maintenance
• use building or land use regulations
• use concrete fabrication techniques
• use hand or power tools
• use hand or power woodworking tools
• use hazardous materials information
• use measuring devices in construction or extraction work
• use oral or written communication techniques
• verify trueness of structure using plumb bob or level
• weld together metal parts, components, or structures

Overall Experience
No previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a cashier even if he/she has never worked before.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.

Education
These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Some may require a formal training course to obtain a license.

Examples
These occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include taxi drivers, amusement and recreation attendants, counter and rental clerks, cashiers, and waiters/waitresses.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$13.13
• Average annual wage (2007) - $27,310.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 10.92%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 134,494
• Employment (2006): 1,232,002

• Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
• Highway Maintenance Workers
• Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
• Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
• Stonemasons
• Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
• Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers
• Rough Carpenters
• Stonemasons
• Tile and Marble Setters