Laborer

Job description

Laborers may be skilled or unskilled workers with duties as varied as clearing timber and brush, removing demolished materials from a job site, placing and vibrating concrete, landscaping, installing pipe, handling the materials for other trades workers or using explosives to demolish buildings. Laborers are needed on all types of construction projects such as highways, bridges, tunnels, large buildings, sanitation, and residential, and perform work for the duration of the project. A laborer must know how to work with his or her hands and with power tools run by gasoline, electricity, and compressed air. Other tools used include pavement breakers, rammers, pumps, compressors, lasers, and vibrators.

Working conditions

Laborer work is performed both indoors and outdoors and may be done on a surface environment, at extreme heights, underground, or above or under water. All laborers must do a considerable amount of lifting, carrying, climbing, kneeling, balancing, and even crawling. Jobs require strength, dexterity, and alertness. Because the work has so many varied conditions, laborers must know the hazards and safety requirements of each job.

Wages

Beginning apprentices start at 60 percent of the journey-level wage. Upon successful completion of required class work and on-the-job hours, wages increase usually every six months, until the journey-level rate is achieved.

Length of apprenticeship

The apprenticeship lasts two years. Apprentices must complete a minimum of 144 related classroom hours per year and 4,000 on-the-job training hours.

Minimum qualifications

Apprenticeship applicants must be at least 18 years of age. Local apprenticeship committees may require additional qualifications such as proof of high school graduation or general education development (GED) equivalent.