What Is a Laborer and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

There is no education requirement to be a laborer. It is possible to get a job with no experience, and most laborer jobs assume no specialized knowledge or training. Depending on the work environment, a knowledge of safe physical working habits is ideal, and knowing how to operate a manual transmission vehicle is helpful in learning to operate more complex machinery. Being comfortable working in variable weather conditions and occasional high-stress environments is necessary for most jobs. Many workplaces have workers’ unions to protect your rights and lobby for better pay. If you wish to move up to positions with more responsibility, first prove your reliability, show a willingness to listen and learn, and observe proper safety protocols at all times. Apprenticing with someone in your chosen specialty is part of the process of becoming a Master Tradesman and accessing higher wages.

Laborer jobs are found throughout the economy and tend to be divided into skilled and unskilled positions. Most employers looking for skilled laborers emphasize the skills and training that applicants should possess, meaning most job advertisements for laborers are looking for unskilled labor. This ranges from a general laborer working on a construction site to positions in factories doing assembly and line work. Many unskilled laborer positions afford you the opportunity to learn job skills and transition into higher-paid skilled roles, often with their own trade unions.

A general laborer completes a variety of tasks, based on the industry and workplace needs. The tasks are not specialized but require physical strength (the ability to lift 70-100 lbs). You may be required to climb to high areas while using safety restraints. You may dig and prep job sites, clean up throughout a job, operate and maintain machinery and vehicles, and provide support to other workers. Other tasks include demolition, building fences, landscaping, street sweeping, piping, digging graves, drilling tunnels, and loading and unloading various items (furniture, boxes, etc.). Advanced trades like concrete work, plumbing, carpentry, and bricklaying include general tasks for entry-level workers, with room to learn specialized skills. Ultimately, labor is the source of all value.

The job description of a construction laborer includes the ability to follow directions while being punctual, reliable, and working with minimal supervision. Being familiar with construction safety standards is a must, as well as having your own transportation to get to the job site. Being efficient, having good communication skills, and a pleasant attitude are all key when working with a construction crew. You must be capable of strenuous physical labor and be open to on-the-job training. Other tasks include moving earth with machinery or by hand, loading and unloading building materials, prepping construction sites, assisting skilled laborers when needed, and operating and maintaining equipment and machinery.