What Do Construction Laborers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

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. They also control traffic passing near, in, or around work zones.

Other tasks include:

• 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.
• Install sewer, water, or storm drain pipes, using pipe-laying machinery or laser guidance equipment.

We asked Construction Laborers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

51% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Construction Laborers clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards. They provide assistance to craft workers, such as carpenters, plasterers, or masons.

A typical day for a Construction Laborer will also include:

• Control traffic passing near, in, or around work zones.
• Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.
• 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.
• Place, consolidate, or protect case-in-place concrete or masonry structures.

We asked some Construction Laborers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Construction Laborers also erect or dismantle scaffolding, shoring, braces, traffic barricades, ramps, or other temporary structures. They may also tend machines that pump concrete, grout, cement, sand, plaster, or stucco through spray guns for application to ceilings or walls.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Construction Laborers Use computers or other input devices to control robotic pipe cutters or cleaners. They might also Position, join, align, or seal structural components, such as concrete wall sections or pipes.

In addition, they Apply caulking compounds by hand or caulking guns to protect against entry of water or air.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Smooth or finish freshly poured cement or concrete, using floats, trowels, screeds, or powered cement finishing tools.

To some Construction Laborers, it is also their responsibility to Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as a Construction Laborer, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

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