A Laborer, or General Laborer, is responsible for performing various tasks to aid daily operations at a construction site. Their duties include loading and unloading tools or raw materials, assembling scaffolding or other pieces of equipment and digging or filling in pits throughout the construction process.

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Laborer duties and responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of a laborer are all geared toward maintaining a clean, safe and efficient construction site while also supporting the overall project. The list of duties and responsibilities for a laborer on any given day may include the following: 

• Cleaning and preparing construction sites.
•   Loading and unloading materials and equipment.
•   Building and taking down scaffolding and temporary structures.
•   Digging trenches, compacting earth and backfilling holes.
•   Operating and tending machinery and heavy equipment.
•   Following instructions from supervisors and implementing construction plans.
•   Assisting skilled tradespeople in their duties.

• Color vision: Laborers must be able to distinguish color clearly to perform their duties, such as knowing which colors of wire an electrician needs.
•   Mathematics: Laborers have to perform calculations every day. Math skills that are vital to laborers include algebra and trigonometry, among others.
•   Mechanical acuity: Laborers also must maintain and operate heavy equipment and machinery, from forklifts to jackhammers and more.
•   Stamina and endurance: To perform their very physical job, laborers have to conduct strenuous and physically demanding tasks for long hours and in extreme environmental conditions.
•   Strength: The lifting duties involved in the job of a laborer often require lifting and carrying weights in excess of 50 pounds.

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