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Date: 09/18/2025

Construction Laborers

Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris, and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers.

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  • Work Activities
  • Skills
  • WorkKeys®
  • Abilities
  • Knowledge
  • Career Video
  • Pay
  • Ohio Employment Trends
  • Typical Education
  • Personality
  • Tools
  • Technology
  • Tags
  • Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.
  • Operate or maintain air monitoring or other sampling devices in confined or hazardous environments.
  • Spray materials, such as water, sand, steam, vinyl, paint, or stucco, through hoses to clean, coat, or seal surfaces.
  • Mop, brush, or spread paints, cleaning solutions, or other compounds over surfaces to clean them or to provide protection.
  • Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
  • Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.
  • Position, join, align, or seal structural components, such as concrete wall sections or pipes.
  • Install sewer, water, or storm drain pipes, using pipe-laying machinery or laser guidance equipment.
  • Grind, scrape, sand, or polish surfaces, such as concrete, marble, terrazzo, or wood flooring, using abrasive tools or machines.
  • Tend machines that pump concrete, grout, cement, sand, plaster, or stucco through spray guns for application to ceilings or walls.
  • Erect or dismantle scaffolding, shoring, braces, traffic barricades, ramps, or other temporary structures.
  • Spray materials, such as water, sand, steam, vinyl, paint, or stucco, through hoses to clean, coat, or seal surfaces.
  • Smooth or finish freshly poured cement or concrete, using floats, trowels, screeds, or powered cement finishing tools.
  • Mix, pour, or spread concrete, using portable cement mixers.
  • Position or dismantle forms for pouring concrete, using saws, hammers, nails, or bolts.
  • Spray materials, such as water, sand, steam, vinyl, paint, or stucco, through hoses to clean, coat, or seal surfaces.
  • Raze buildings or salvage useful materials.
  • Mop, brush, or spread paints, cleaning solutions, or other compounds over surfaces to clean them or to provide protection.
  • Place, consolidate, or protect case-in-place concrete or masonry structures.
  • Mix, pour, or spread concrete, using portable cement mixers.
  • Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.
  • Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.
  • Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, or compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, or rakes.
  • Perform site activities required of green certified construction practices, such as implementing waste management procedures, identifying materials for reuse, or installing erosion or sedimentation control mechanisms.
  • Mix, pour, or spread concrete, using portable cement mixers.
  • Mix ingredients to create compounds for covering or cleaning surfaces.
  • Erect or dismantle scaffolding, shoring, braces, traffic barricades, ramps, or other temporary structures.
  • Provide assistance to craft workers, such as carpenters, plasterers, or masons.
  • Operate jackhammers or drills to break up concrete or pavement.
  • Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials.
  • Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, or compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, or rakes.
  • Position, join, align, or seal structural components, such as concrete wall sections or pipes.
  • Control traffic passing near, in, or around work zones.
  • Tend pumps, compressors, or generators to provide power for tools, machinery, or equipment or to heat or move materials, such as asphalt.
  • Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
  • Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.
  • Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards.
  • Place, consolidate, or protect case-in-place concrete or masonry structures.
  • Apply caulking compounds by hand or caulking guns to protect against entry of water or air.

Work Activities

Work Activities

  • Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.
  • Operate or maintain air monitoring or other sampling devices in confined or hazardous environments.
  • Spray materials, such as water, sand, steam, vinyl, paint, or stucco, through hoses to clean, coat, or seal surfaces.
  • Mop, brush, or spread paints, cleaning solutions, or other compounds over surfaces to clean them or to provide protection.
  • Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
  • Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.
  • Position, join, align, or seal structural components, such as concrete wall sections or pipes.
  • Install sewer, water, or storm drain pipes, using pipe-laying machinery or laser guidance equipment.
  • Grind, scrape, sand, or polish surfaces, such as concrete, marble, terrazzo, or wood flooring, using abrasive tools or machines.
  • Tend machines that pump concrete, grout, cement, sand, plaster, or stucco through spray guns for application to ceilings or walls.
  • Erect or dismantle scaffolding, shoring, braces, traffic barricades, ramps, or other temporary structures.
  • Spray materials, such as water, sand, steam, vinyl, paint, or stucco, through hoses to clean, coat, or seal surfaces.
  • Smooth or finish freshly poured cement or concrete, using floats, trowels, screeds, or powered cement finishing tools.
  • Mix, pour, or spread concrete, using portable cement mixers.
  • Position or dismantle forms for pouring concrete, using saws, hammers, nails, or bolts.
  • Spray materials, such as water, sand, steam, vinyl, paint, or stucco, through hoses to clean, coat, or seal surfaces.
  • Raze buildings or salvage useful materials.
  • Mop, brush, or spread paints, cleaning solutions, or other compounds over surfaces to clean them or to provide protection.
  • Place, consolidate, or protect case-in-place concrete or masonry structures.
  • Mix, pour, or spread concrete, using portable cement mixers.
  • Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.
  • Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.
  • Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, or compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, or rakes.
  • Perform site activities required of green certified construction practices, such as implementing waste management procedures, identifying materials for reuse, or installing erosion or sedimentation control mechanisms.
  • Mix, pour, or spread concrete, using portable cement mixers.
  • Mix ingredients to create compounds for covering or cleaning surfaces.
  • Erect or dismantle scaffolding, shoring, braces, traffic barricades, ramps, or other temporary structures.
  • Provide assistance to craft workers, such as carpenters, plasterers, or masons.
  • Operate jackhammers or drills to break up concrete or pavement.
  • Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials.
  • Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, or compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, or rakes.
  • Position, join, align, or seal structural components, such as concrete wall sections or pipes.
  • Control traffic passing near, in, or around work zones.
  • Tend pumps, compressors, or generators to provide power for tools, machinery, or equipment or to heat or move materials, such as asphalt.
  • Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
  • Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.
  • Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards.
  • Place, consolidate, or protect case-in-place concrete or masonry structures.
  • Apply caulking compounds by hand or caulking guns to protect against entry of water or air.

Skills

  • Management of Personnel Resources

    Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.

  • Programming

    Writing computer programs.

  • Operations Analysis

    Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.

  • Management of Material Resources

    Managing equipment and materials.

  • Social Perceptiveness

    Understanding people's reactions.

  • Technology Design

    Making equipment and technology useful for customers.

  • Coordination

    Changing what is done based on other people's actions.

  • Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • Persuasion

    Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.

  • Science

    Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.

  • Learning Strategies

    Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.

  • Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • Service Orientation

    Looking for ways to help people.

  • Operation and Control

    Using equipment or systems.

  • Equipment Maintenance

    Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.

  • Judgment and Decision Making

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.

  • Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • Operations Monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.

  • Systems Evaluation

    Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.

  • Negotiation

    Bringing people together to solve differences.

  • Systems Analysis

    Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.

  • Active Listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.

  • Reading Comprehension

    Reading work-related information.

  • Complex Problem Solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • Management of Financial Resources

    Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.

  • Repairing

    Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.

  • Equipment Selection

    Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.

  • Quality Control Analysis

    Testing how well a product or service works.

  • Active Learning

    Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.

  • Troubleshooting

    Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.

  • Time Management

    Managing your time and the time of other people.

  • Critical Thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • Mathematics

    Using math to solve problems.

  • Installation

    Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.

WorkKeys®

Applied Math
3
Workplace Documents
3
Graphic Literacy
4

Abilities

  • Fluency of Ideas

    Coming up with lots of ideas.

  • Flexibility of Closure

    Seeing hidden patterns.

  • Arm-Hand Steadiness

    Keeping your arm or hand steady.

  • Visualization

    Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.

  • Reaction Time

    Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.

  • Glare Sensitivity

    Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.

  • Control Precision

    Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.

  • Auditory Attention

    Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.

  • Gross Body Equilibrium

    Keeping your balance or staying upright.

  • Selective Attention

    Paying attention to something without being distracted.

  • Speed of Limb Movement

    Quickly moving your arms and legs.

  • Dynamic Flexibility

    Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.

  • Peripheral Vision

    Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.

  • Speech Recognition

    Recognizing spoken words.

  • Wrist-Finger Speed

    Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.

  • Extent Flexibility

    Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.

  • Speech Clarity

    Speaking clearly.

  • Trunk Strength

    Using your lower back and stomach.

  • Far Vision

    Seeing details that are far away.

  • Written Comprehension

    Reading and understanding what is written.

  • Time Sharing

    Doing two or more things at the same time.

  • Information Ordering

    Ordering or arranging things.

  • Category Flexibility

    Grouping things in different ways.

  • Perceptual Speed

    Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

  • Manual Dexterity

    Holding or moving items with your hands.

  • Number Facility

    Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.

  • Stamina

    Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.

  • Visual Color Discrimination

    Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.

  • Gross Body Coordination

    Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.

  • Dynamic Strength

    Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.

  • Near Vision

    Seeing details up close.

  • Rate Control

    Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.

  • Explosive Strength

    Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.

  • Written Expression

    Communicating by writing.

  • Mathematical Reasoning

    Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.

  • Spatial Orientation

    Knowing where things are around you.

  • Deductive Reasoning

    Using rules to solve problems.

  • Inductive Reasoning

    Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.

  • Oral Expression

    Communicating by speaking.

  • Oral Comprehension

    Listening and understanding what people say.

  • Originality

    Creating new and original ideas.

  • Memorization

    Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.

  • Speed of Closure

    Quickly knowing what you are looking at.

  • Sound Localization

    Noticing the direction that a sound came from.

  • Static Strength

    Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.

  • Response Orientation

    Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.

  • Hearing Sensitivity

    Telling the difference between sounds.

  • Multilimb Coordination

    Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.

  • Depth Perception

    Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.

  • Finger Dexterity

    Putting together small parts with your fingers.

  • Problem Sensitivity

    Noticing when problems happen.

  • Night Vision

    Seeing at night or under low light.

Knowledge

  • Biology

    Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

  • Education and Training

    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • Sociology and Anthropology

    Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.

  • Economics and Accounting

    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

  • Food Production

    Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.

  • Design

    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • Engineering and Technology

    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

  • Therapy and Counseling

    Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

  • Mechanical

    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • Production and Processing

    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

  • Customer and Personal Service

    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

  • Physics

    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.

  • Building and Construction

    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

  • Foreign Language

    Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

  • Administration and Management

    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

  • Computers and Electronics

    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • Chemistry

    Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

  • Personnel and Human Resources

    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

  • Law and Government

    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

  • Transportation

    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

  • Public Safety and Security

    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

  • Psychology

    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

  • Geography

    Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.

  • Sales and Marketing

    Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

  • Philosophy and Theology

    Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.

  • History and Archeology

    Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.

  • English Language

    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • Communications and Media

    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

  • Administrative

    Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

  • Mathematics

    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

  • Medicine and Dentistry

    Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

  • Fine Arts

    Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

  • Telecommunications

    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Career Video

Additional videos and more information available on CareerOneStop

Pay

  • Typical Salary
  • $78,770
    $49,640
    $36,560
    Ohio
    US
    $77,530
    $46,730
    $34,200
  • Typical Hourly Wage
  • $38
    $24
    $18
    Ohio
    US
    $37
    $22
    $16

Ohio Employment Trends

  • Currently Employed 46,780
  • Yearly Projected Openings 4100

Typical Education

Personality

Realistic: People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.They do well at jobs that need:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Cooperation
  • Integrity
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Concern for Others

Tools

  • Adjustable forks
  • Adjustable widemouth pliers
  • Adjustable wrenches
  • Air compressors
  • Air samplers or collectors
  • Asphalt finishers
  • Axes
  • Bandsaw wheel
  • Belt conveyors
  • Bituminous material distributors
  • Blades or tooth or other cutting edges
  • Blow torch
  • Boring or sinking machinery
  • Burners
  • Calipers
  • Caulking guns
  • Cement pumping units
  • Chip Spreaders
  • Cold chisels
  • Combination pliers
  • Compactors
  • Concrete mixers or plants
  • Concrete spreaders
  • Coring equipment
  • Demolition equipment kits
  • Digital camcorders or video cameras
  • Drain or pipe cleaning equipment
  • Drilling machines
  • Dump trucks
  • Explosive initiators
  • Floats
  • Forklifts
  • Gas detectors
  • Gas generators
  • Gin pole and accessories
  • Graders
  • Grinders
  • Hammer drills
  • Hammers
  • Hand sprayers
  • Hand trucks or accessories
  • Hazardous material protective apparel
  • Hoes
  • Hoists
  • Hole saws
  • Hydraulic rock drills
  • Hydraulic truck cranes
  • Impact hammers
  • Impact wrenches
  • Instrument tripods
  • Kettle exchangers
  • Ladders
  • Laser measuring systems
  • Leak testing equipment
  • Level sensors or transmitters
  • Levels
  • Lifting hooks
  • Light trucks or sport utility vehicles
  • Manlift or personnel lift
  • Measuring rods
  • Measuring wheels for distance
  • Micrometers
  • Mowers
  • Mud pumps
  • Paint sprayers
  • Paving breakers
  • Picks
  • Pipe or tube cutter
  • Plasma arc welding machine
  • Plaster or mortar mixers
  • Plumb bobs
  • Pneumatic drill
  • Pneumatic hammer
  • Pneumatic sanding machines
  • Post hole digger
  • Power buggies
  • Power chippers
  • Power drills
  • Power grinders
  • Power nail guns
  • Power sanders
  • Power saws
  • Power screwguns
  • Pressure or steam cleaners
  • Pry bars
  • Pullers
  • Punches or nail sets or drifts
  • Rakes
  • Remote reading thermometers
  • Respirators
  • Rollers
  • Rotary tiller mixers
  • Safety harnesses or belts
  • Saws
  • Scaffolding
  • Scarifiers
  • Scissor lift or lift table
  • Screwdrivers
  • Shielded metal arc welding or stick welding machine
  • Shoring equipment
  • Shotcrete spraying equipment
  • Shovels
  • Skid steer loaders
  • Slings
  • Sludge or sewage handling trucks
  • Snowplow attachments
  • Space heaters
  • Spades
  • Sprayers
  • Squares
  • Staple guns
  • Stonemason hammer
  • Tampers
  • Tape measures
  • Theodolites
  • Threading taps
  • Tongs
  • Track loaders
  • Trenching machines
  • Trowels
  • Two way radios
  • Vacuum cleaners
  • Vibratory plates
  • Water samplers
  • Water trucks
  • Welding masks
  • Wheel loaders
  • Winches
  • Wire and cable pulling device

Technology

  • Computer aided design CAD software
  • Electronic mail software
  • Office suite software
  • Operating system software
  • Project management software
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Word processing software

Tags

  • InDemand occupations are considered a priority by the state of Ohio.
  • Apprenticeships are available for this occupation. These programs can help you get hands-on experience and build your skills.
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