Construction Laborers

Description

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.

Tasks

Control traffic passing near, in, or around work zones.
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.
Install sewer, water, or storm drain pipes, using pipe-laying machinery or laser guidance equipment.
Operate or maintain air monitoring or other sampling devices in confined or hazardous environments.
Mix ingredients to create compounds for covering or cleaning surfaces.
Grind, scrape, sand, or polish surfaces such as concrete, marble, terrazzo, or wood flooring, using abrasive tools or machines.
Position, join, align, or seal structural components, such as concrete wall sections or pipes.
Tend machines that pump concrete, grout, cement, sand, plaster, or stucco through spray guns for application to ceilings or walls.
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 caulking guns to protect against entry of water or air.
Mop, brush, or spread paints, cleaning solutions, or other compounds over surfaces to clean them or to provide protection.
Perform site activities required of green certified construction practices, such as implementing waste management procedures, identifying materials for reuse, or installing erosion or sedimentation control mechanisms.
Identify, pack, or transport hazardous or radioactive materials.
Raze buildings or salvage useful materials.
Place, consolidate, or protect case-in-place concrete or masonry structures.
Perform building weatherization tasks, such as repairing windows, adding insulation, or applying weather-stripping materials.
Perform construction laborer duties at green building sites, such as renewable energy plants or wind turbine installations.
Transport or set explosives for tunnel, shaft, or road construction.
Use computers or other input devices to control robotic pipe cutters or cleaners.
Apply weather-stripping to reduce energy loss.

Knowledge

Building and Construction: Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Public Safety and Security: Knowledge 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.
Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Transportation: Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Skills

Active Listening: Giving 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.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Abilities

Static Strength: The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Trunk Strength: The 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.
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Multilimb Coordination: The 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.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

Work Activities

Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
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.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Work Context

Contact With Others: How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets: How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable: How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
Outdoors, Exposed to Weather: How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment: How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls: How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
Face-to-Face Discussions: How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Exposed to Contaminants: How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
Spend Time Standing: How much does this job require standing?
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions: How much does this job require making repetitive motions?

Interests

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.
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.
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.
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.

Work Style

Attention to Detail: Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability: Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Integrity: Job requires being honest and ethical.
Cooperation: Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Self Control: Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance: Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Initiative: Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Persistence: Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Concern for Others: Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Adaptability/Flexibility: Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Work Values

Support: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Relationships: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Working Conditions: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Independence: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Achievement: Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Recognition: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Related Occupations

Stonemasons

Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters

Highway Maintenance Workers

Roustabouts, Oil and Gas

Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

Lay Titles

Adz Worker

Air Breaker Operator

Air Drill Operator

Air Gun Operator

Air Hammer Operator

Air Tool Operator

Aluminum Pool Installer

Asbestos Removal Worker

Asphalt Distributor Tender

Asphalt Heater Tender

Asphalt Layer

Asphalt Patcher

Asphalt Paver

Asphalt Raker

Asphalt Smoother

Asphalt Spreader

Asphalt Tamper

Asphalt Worker

Auxiliary Equipment Tender

Awning Hanger

Awning Maker and Installer

Axman

Batch Dumper

Beller

Bellman

Belter

Beltman

Black Top Raker

Black Topper

Bottom Man

Bottom Worker

Breast Worker

Bridge Builder

Broom Man

Broom Worker

Brush Cutter

Building Cleaner

Bull Float Finisher

Burlap Man

Burlap Worker

Caisson Worker

Carpenter

Cement Based Materials Pump Tender

Cement Breaker

Cement Cutter

Cement Finisher

Cement Mixer

Chuck Tender

Cinder Crew Worker

Circular Saw Operator

Cleaner

Column Precaster

Concrete Building Assembler

Concrete Buster Operator

Concrete Curer

Concrete Handler

Concrete Layer

Concrete Mixer

Concrete Pourer

Concrete Puddler

Concrete Spreader

Concrete Vibrator Operator

Concrete Worker

Connection Worker

Construction Craft Laborer

Construction Inspector

Construction Laborer

Construction or Leak Gang Laborer

Construction Person

Construction Pit Worker

Construction Worker

Core-Drill Operator

Culvert Installer

Curb and Gutter Laborer

Demolition Hammer Operator

National Wages and Employment Info

Median Wages (2008):: $14.42 hourly, $29,990 annual.

Employment (2008):: 814,470 employees