Occupation Profile

Construction Laborers

(SOC Code : 47-2061)

in California

Perform tasks involving physical labor at building, highway, and heavy construction projects, tunnel and shaft excavations, and demolition 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, clean up rubble and debris, and remove asbestos, lead, and other hazardous waste materials. May assist other craft workers. Exclude construction laborers who primarily assist a particular craft worker, and classify them under "Helpers, Construction Trades" (47-3011 through 47-3016).

Employers usually expect an employee in this occupation to be able to do the job after Moderate-term on-the-job training (1-12 months) .

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Occupational Wages

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Area	Year	Period	Hourly Mean	Hourly by Percentile
				25th	Median	75th
California	2012	1st Qtr	$20.24	$14.12	$18.51	$25.91

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Occupational Projections of Employment (also called "Outlook" or "Demand")

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Area	Estimated Year-Projected Year	Employment		Employment Change		Annual Avg Openings
		Estimated	Projected	Number	Percent
California	2010 - 2020	109,500	130,900	21,400	19.5	3,020

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Job Openings from JobCentral National Labor Exchange

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Enter a Zip Code Find a Zip code in California

Within miles of Zip Code.

Possible Licenses Required and Issuing Authority

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License Title

License Authority

Scaffolding Limited Specialty Contractor

Department of Consumer Affairs
Contractors State License Board
License Information Center
www.cslb.ca.gov

Construction Clean-Up Limited Specialty Contractor

Department of Consumer Affairs
Contractors State License Board
License Information Center
www.cslb.ca.gov

About Licenses

Industries Employing This Occupation (click on Industry Title to View Employers List)

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Industry Title

Number of Employers in State of California

Percent of Total
Employment for Occupation in State of California

Residential Building Construction

22,021

15.1%

Other Specialty Trade Contractors

14,281

11.4%

Employment Services

6,297

9.7%

Building Foundation/Exterior Contractors

10,040

8.3%

Nonresidential Building Construction

16,804

8.3%

Utility System Construction

1,731

5.8%

Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction

2,189

4.1%

Building Equipment Contractors

29,622

3.3%

Building Finishing Contractors

18,636

2.2%

Services to Buildings and Dwellings

28,067

2.2%

Other Heavy Construction

2,693

1.2%

About Staffing Patterns

Data for Training Programs not available.

About Training & Apprenticeships

About This Occupation (from O*NET - The Occupation Information Network)

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Top Tasks (Specific duties and responsibilities of this job.)

Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards.

Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.

Control traffic passing near, in, or around work zones.

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.

Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.

Position, join, align, or seal structural components, such as concrete wall sections or pipes.

Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.

Erect or dismantle scaffolding, shoring, braces, traffic barricades, ramps, or other temporary structures.

Position or dismantle forms for pouring concrete, using saws, hammers, nails, or bolts.

More Tasks for Construction Laborers

Top Skills used in this Job

Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others` actions.

Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others` reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

More Skills for Construction Laborers

Data for Tasks not available.

More Abilities for Construction Laborers

Top Work Values (Aspects of this job that create satisfaction.)

Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees.

Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

More Work Values for Construction Laborers

Top Interests (The types of activities someone in this job would like.)

Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

More Interests for Construction Laborers

Alternate Titles

Construction Workers; Laborers; Tunnel Laborers; Tunnel Miners