Construction Laborers Occupation Details

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Construction Laborers

The main tasks and work activities of Construction Laborers are to clean work sites, review blueprints or specifications to determine work requirements, direct vehicle traffic, signal equipment operators to indicate proper equipment positioning. In general, for the Construction Laborers, speaking, coordination, active Listening, operation and Control and other 2 skills are required.

Construction Laborers Job Description
Education	These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related Experience	Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job Training	Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Example	These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.

The following chart shows the education/training levels for Construction Laborers jobs. 34.90% of Construction Laborers have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 27.98% of Construction Laborers have Post-Secondary Certificate.

Less than a High School Diploma

32.53%

High School Diploma (or the equivalent)

34.90%

Post-Secondary Certificate

27.98%

Some College Courses

0.00%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)

4.59%

Bachelor's Degree and Above

0.00%

Tasks and Work Activities of Construction Laborers

Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards.
Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.
Control traffic passing near, in, or around work zones.
Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials.
Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, or compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, or rakes.
Position, join, align, or seal structural components, such as concrete wall sections or pipes.
Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.
Erect or dismantle scaffolding, shoring, braces, traffic barricades, ramps, or other temporary structures.
Position or dismantle forms for pouring concrete, using saws, hammers, nails, or bolts.
Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.
Operate jackhammers or drills to break up concrete or pavement.
Smooth or finish freshly poured cement or concrete, using floats, trowels, screeds, or powered cement finishing tools.
Operate or maintain air monitoring or other sampling devices in confined or hazardous environments.
Install sewer, water, or storm drain pipes, using pipe-laying machinery or laser guidance equipment.
Provide assistance to craft workers, such as carpenters, plasterers, or masons.
Tend pumps, compressors, or generators to provide power for tools, machinery, or equipment or to heat or 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, or protect case-in-place concrete or masonry structures.
Identify, pack, or transport hazardous or radioactive materials.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRunning, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentServicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.

Clean work sites.
Review blueprints or specifications to determine work requirements.
Direct vehicle traffic.
Signal equipment operators to indicate proper equipment positioning.
Compact materials to create level bases.
Dig holes or trenches.
Install plumbing or piping.
Position structural components.
Mark reference points on construction materials.
Measure work site dimensions.
Move construction or extraction materials to locations where they are needed.
Load or unload materials used in construction or extraction.
Dismantle equipment or temporary structures.
Assemble temporary equipment or structures.
Position construction forms or molds.
Maintain construction tools or equipment.
Clean equipment or facilities.
Break up rock, asphalt, or concrete.
Finish concrete surfaces.
Test air quality at work sites.

Skills and Abilities for Construction Laborers

SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Static StrengthThe ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Trunk StrengthThe ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
Extent FlexibilityThe ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
StaminaThe ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Dynamic StrengthThe ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
Rate ControlThe ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Depth PerceptionThe ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.

Adjustable widemouth plierse.g. Adjustable widemouth pliers
Adjustable wrenchese.g. Adjustable wrenches
Air compressorse.g. Air compressors
Pneumatic drille.g. Air drills
Air samplers or collectorse.g. Air monitoring equipment
Kettle exchangerse.g. Asphalt kettles
Asphalt finisherse.g. Asphalt mops
Power sawse.g. Asphalt saws
Axese.g. Axes
Lifting hookse.g. Bale hooks
Bandsaw wheele.g. Bandsaws
Belt conveyorse.g. Belt conveyors
Power grinderse.g. Bench grinders
Manlift or personnel lifte.g. Bosun chairs
Adjustable forkse.g. Brick carrier forks
Stonemason hammere.g. Brick hammers
Tongse.g. Brick tongs
Wire and cable pulling devicee.g. Cable pullers
Caliperse.g. Calipers
Levelse.g. Carpenters' levels

Building and ConstructionKnowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Construction Laborers Occupation Detailed Description

Tasks and Work Activities of Construction Laborers

Skills and Abilities for Construction Laborers