Construction Laborers Career Info

CONSTRUCTION JOB DESCRIPTION:

Construction laborers perform tasks involving physical labor for building, highway, and construction projects, excavations, and demolition. May operate a variety of equipment including hand and power tools: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment. 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.

CONSTRUCTION JOB SKILLS:

Construction laborers must have good manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and balance. They must be able to read and understand warning signs and labels on a construction site, be able to interpret plans, drawings, and written instructions and specifications. They should be capable of working as a member of a team and have basic problem-solving and math skills.

AVAILABILITY:

In 2002, the median hourly earnings of cement masons and concrete finishers were $11.90. The average hourly earnings were $7.58 - $23.36. In 2002, the median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest number of construction laborers were as follows:
Highway, street, and bridge construction $14.48
Nonresidential building construction 12.97
Other specialty trade contractors 12.35
Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors 11.89
Residential building construction 11.42

Some laborers belong to the Laborers' International Union of North America.

SOURCE OF INFORMATION:

http://www.collegegrad.com/careers/const08.shtml
http://www.xap.com/career/careerdetail/career47-2061.00.html
http://www.workforcedevelopment.com/construction/laborer.html