Trade Schools with Construction Programs
View More Schools
If you’re looking for a job with a steady income and immense variety, consider attending construction school. Upon graduation, these workers carry out countless tasks at several types of job sites. Their duties can be quiet and easy, such as sweeping or dusting. They can also be risky and physically taxing, involving tools like pavement breakers and jackhammers.
The ideal team member is physically fit and has undergone construction training. Recruits should have experience with manual labor in a variety of work environments. A few of the more common construction helper job sites include highway construction zones, demolition regions, and structural restoration sites.
Find a Trade School
What Is Construction?
Construction laborers are fundamental to nearly every single architectural endeavor. These individuals do the physical work that is crucial to the completion of both small and large-scale building projects. They perform a wide range of duties, from prepping job sites to managing traffic patterns.
Laborers stay busy throughout every aspect of construction. When preparing work sites, they build scaffolds and secure bracing within temporary platforms. After the job is complete, they sweep up and store any remaining tools or hazardous items.
Construction laborers often assist the following professionals:
- Electricians
- Stonemasons and brickmasons
- Tile and marble setters
- Roofers
- Carpenters
- Plumbers and steamfitters
- Painters and stainers
- Plasterers and flooring installers
What Are Common Construction Duties?
Construction workers occupy most of their time on the clock with manual labor. They have numerous duties, including cleaning up trash or storing unneeded materials and machinery. For the most part, these colleagues perform the lower-skilled tasks associated with building and restoration projects.
Construction laborers help craftworkers such as carpenters and electricians carry tools or other items. They assist cement masons while pouring concrete and give roofers a hand when carrying materials up ladders. As entry-level employees, laborers must dispose of waste and dismantle equipment. They also remove outdated or dangerous building materials such as asbestos and lead.
Loading and unloading trucks is another common task for those with construction careers. They may have to carve out ditches, create trenches, or backfill holes. In addition to prepping land for building projects, laborers must know how to maintain various types of equipment.
The ideal construction helper should be able to:
- Precisely follow instructions
- Inform new coworkers of proper practices
- Punctual attendance
- Adapt to unfamiliar situations or environments
- Learn quickly and ask questions when needed
What Types of Tools Do Construction Workers Use?
Construction laborers use a variety of manual and power tools, which vary depending on the project. Workers must use a steady hand while operating potentially harmful equipment. Builders put the following construction tools to use on a near-daily basis:
- Hammers, wrenches and screwdrivers
- Pry bars
- Clamps
- Tubing cutters and benders
- Manual hand saws
- Masonry trowels
- Soldering torches
- Jackhammers
Modern Construction Tools
Today’s workers utilize modern technology like surveillance drones and mobile construction software. These tools help associates see high, hard-to-reach areas or simulate construction scenarios to find the best designs.
What Is the Work Environment of a Construction Laborer?
While stationed on job sites, associates often find themselves in dusty or dirty environments. They function near loud, dangerous machines that cut wood and braze metal. They work both indoors and outdoors in all types of temperatures and weather conditions. Construction laborers perform physically demanding tasks in dangerous areas ranging from tall heights to subterranean tunnels.
Why Do Construction Workers Need the Ability to Lift Heavy Items?
When creating a construction resume, stress a willingness to perform physical tasks. These activities make up the bulk of a laborer’s duties, which is why they must be fit and capable of hard work. Employers are in dire need of associates prepared to climb, dig, and lift heavy items nonstop throughout the day.
How Do Construction Workers Promote Safety?
With some of the highest accident and sickness rates among all professions, construction laborers need to make safety their top priority. The following types of injuries may occur on job sites:
- Being hit with unsecured tools
- Getting cut from equipment, materials, and the environment
- Breathing in harmful fumes or dust
- Receiving burns from hot equipment or chemicals
- Falling off scaffolds, ladders, or roofs
- Hearing loss from working near loud construction equipment
- Smashing fingers with hammers, doors, or pallets
- Sore or torn muscles from carrying heavy items
Protective Gear for Construction Workers
When used for long periods, some equipment may cause muscle strains, tears, or repetitive motion injuries. While only so much can be done to avoid this damage, personal protective equipment helps to safeguard against other hazards. The following defensive gear is worn by construction workers:
- Hard hats
- Painter’s masks
- Respirator masks
- Steel-toed boots
- Snag-resistant uniforms
- Body harnesses
- Earplugs
- Safety goggles
- Protective gloves
- Aluminum shin guards
What Are Useful Traits for People in This Field?
- Math and reading talents for interpreting blueprints or diagrams
- Critical thinking skills while making important choices and assisting surveying crews
- Clear vision and depth perception for safety when working with dangerous tools
- Color coordination abilities for distinguishing electrical wiring hues
- Strength to lift heavy boxes, tools, equipment, and other objects
- Endurance and stamina while spending hours on foot performing pulls, lifts, bends, and pushes
- Mechanical talent to operate heavy, complex, or dangerous machinery
- Communication skills to understand and follow detailed instructions without error
Are There Special Construction Job Requirements?
In most cases, formal construction education is unnecessary for a career in the field. Employers provide short-term on-the-job training for those new to the business. As time goes on, construction laborers work under dozens of talented people with a variety of specialties. Learning from these experts helps to round out their own skillsets. Each company makes its own choices regarding how long to train their recruits.
To get a head start and show enthusiasm, some prospects take construction classes in conjunction with apprenticeships. Prior knowledge of the trade is useful when the time comes to assist serious workers like pipefitters, plumbers, and electricians. Recruits should be proficient in following blueprints and solving math problems involving geometry or trigonometry.
Attending construction trade school teaches recruits the following:
- Correct use of tools, machines, and other hardware
- How to read and follow detailed construction blueprints
- Proper methods of signaling information
- What to expect on jobsites
- Guidelines on safety procedures and health protocols
What Is the Outlook for
Construction Careers?
In America there are about 1,449,000 work site laborers. Construction job growth is at 12%, which is faster than the national average across all occupations. As the level of construction activity rises, so does the demand for those willing to do the necessary physical labor.
Several factors contribute to the industry’s quick expansion. One of these is the amount of work needed to repair the nation’s aging infrastructure. Restoring roads, water lines, bridges, and electrical equipment takes a great deal of effort from construction laborers and other skilled workers. As more and more Baby Boomers retire from the industry, open positions should be available well into the future.
The average pay rate for construction helpers and laborers falls around $16.75 per hour, totaling about $35k per year. Hourly wages increase as apprentices gain new construction skills. Workers with several years of experience at significant job sites can earn annual salary packages exceeding $60k.
Construction benefits for these workers often include the following options:
- Paid vacation time
- 401(k) retirement plans
- IRAs
- Medical insurance
- Life insurance
- Equipment and food allowances
There is a shortage of labor in the construction trade. Employers are having trouble filling roles. This is good news for potential workers, as there is plenty of opportunity for industry employment. It’s estimated that almost 80% of contractors have issues finding the number of skilled construction laborers needed at most job sites.
Laborers' International Union of North America Certifications
Certain types of perilous work may require laborers to receive LIUNA construction certifications including:
- Scaffold building
- Rigging
- Welding
- Concrete labor
- Activities involving HAZMAT materials
What Should Workers Expect?
While some enjoy part-time roles, the majority of construction laborers work full-time. On occasion, overtime hours are required to meet specific milestones or deadlines. There are openings for third shift jobs in the industry, as a lot of road maintenance work takes place after dark.
Rainy weather can force outdoor job sites to close for the day. Certain roles are seasonal, as lots of construction and road maintenance projects are put on hold during the cold months.
Where Can Prospects Find Work?
Because of the high demand for skilled laborers, prospects have many options while looking for employment. To find a construction job, consider the following avenues:
- Internships
- Online or newspaper ads
- Temp agencies
- Construction contractors
- Engineering companies
Will Robots Replace Human Construction Workers?
There have been fears by some in the industry that robots could one day make their jobs obsolete. This is not the case. Robots cannot duplicate the lifting, maneuvering, and critical thinking abilities needed by construction laborers. If anything, the use of these machines creates a need for new workers in operator and maintenance roles.
Do Construction Workers Have Any Other Options?
Skills acquired while working as a construction laborer can transfer to many other fields. Those who enjoy woodworking may want to pursue a career in carpentry. These associates make over $46k per year doing a variety of construction projects, from building freeways to installing kitchen cabinets. Carpenters often receive paid apprenticeship training while on the job, forgoing the need for special schooling.
With onsite training, laborers without construction degrees can learn the skills needed for higher-paying jobs. Many of these occupations include salary options over $80k. To earn increased hourly wages, consider careers as the following:
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Roofers
- Equipment operators
- Boilermakers
- Elevator maintenance staff
What Are Alternate Careers Involving Construction Work?
Construction managers see projects from start to finish, making critical decisions that dictate the course of development. They make plans, delegate work, finalize completion times, and determine financial needs. Colleagues work on a wide range of projects, including those dealing with roads, houses, skyscrapers, and bridges. Courses of action are determined using planning and budgeting software.
Associates must adhere to regulations and city codes to avoid any legal issues. This often involves research on the area’s laws, permit limitations, and construction requirements. Skilled managers can make well over $95k per year, especially when employed by a big company or if working for a major city.
In order to finish projects properly and on time, construction managers work with a wide range of people:
- Trade laborers
- Civil engineers
- Architects
- Inspectors
- Government officials
- Lawyers