Labourer
Introduction
As a General Construction Operative (also known as a Labourer) you would work on building sites and in public places alongside skilled tradespeople. You could work on projects ranging from new housing developments to road building. General Construction Operatives can work with concrete, lay drainage and pavements and excavate holes and trenches. They have a very wide range of skills, so it is probably no surprise to hear they are in demand.
Labourer
Typical Tasks
- Performing routine maintenance on trucks and construction equipment
- Setting up and taking down equipment at the job site
- Utilising suitable safety restraints when working at heights and in hazardous situations
- Directing traffic around construction sites
- Upkeep of tools and equipment
- Building routes and roads
- Building a scaffold
- Operating a forklift
- Lifting large objects and negotiating obstacles on a construction site
- Preparing a task site for building by excavating pits, trenches, and foundations
- Supplying labour to a specialty staff as needed
Labourer
Earning Potential
*Pay rates
Earnings typically depend on location, employer, the stage of your training, your hours worked and the opportunity to work overtime. Please also note that the pay rate figures have come from a variety of reliable sources including:
- National Home Builders
- Home Builder's Sub-Contractors
- CITB
- The Home Builders Federation
- Construction Recruitment Agencies
Labourer
Qualifications We Offer
Investigate your options for entering this position. You can apply for this position by a college course, an apprenticeship, or direct employment. You might begin by enrolling in a college course like: Level 1 Construction Skills Certificate Level 2 Construction Operations Certificate
Entry prerequisites:
For a level 1 course, you must have no more than two GCSEs in grades D to G, or its equivalent.
For a level 2, two or more GCSEs in the range of 9 to 3 (A* to D), or an equivalent.
Labourer
Career Progression
To become a competent tradesperson or plant operator, you could receive on-the-job training. Deconstruction is another career option.
You might advance to the position of site supervisor with time.
Labourer
Job Roles
The type of job role can differ depending on the employer and the activities involved. Some roles such as trade roles have the opportunity to be self-employed. Often employers offer a variety of employment status and flexibility. The jobs outlined in this website are common across the home building industry, but the job titles may differ from one organisation to another.
Labourer
Earn While You Learn
All our featured job roles offer different entry-points for school leavers, college leavers, and graduates to commence a career in the industry. There are opportunities to enrol on apprenticeships and other career progression routes.
For most jobs, depending on your qualifications and experience there are also openings for those looking to change career.
Key job roles
A few (of many) jobs which we are looking to recruit in the home building industry.
Bricklayer
Carpenter
Dry liner
Engineer
Groundworker
Site Manager
Plasterer
Plumber
Quantity Surveyor
Roofer
Sales Advisor
Bricklayer
Carpenter
Dry liner
Engineer
Groundworker
Site Manager
Plasterer
Plumber
Quantity Surveyor
Roofer
Sales Advisor
Bricklayer
Carpenter
Dry liner
Engineer
Groundworker
Site Manager
Plasterer
Plumber
Quantity Surveyor
Roofer
Sales Advisor
Job locations
Find opportunities in your region
Job locations
Find opportunities in your region
To find opportunities available in your region, click a region to the left and then click one of the home builder logos below to be taken to their careers website.
