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Laborer Apprenticeship
Construction Craft Laborer Apprenticeship

What Does a Construction Laborer Do?
What Are the Working Conditions?
How is the Training Structured?
What are the Application Requirements?
What Skills Should I Possess?
Who Do I Contact?
Additional Resources

Did you know?*

• Many construction laborer jobs require a variety of basic skills, but others require specialized training and experience.
• Most construction laborers learn on the job, but formal apprenticeship programs provide the most thorough preparation.
• Job opportunities vary by locality, but in many areas there will be competition, especially for jobs requiring limited skills.
• Laborers who have specialized skills or who can relocate near new construction projects should have the best opportunities.

*Statistics retrieved from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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What Does a Construction Laborer Do?

Construction craft laborers perform a wide range of non-special trade construction work including semi-skilled and unskilled tasks. Work performed is often physical and manual in nature, such as digging, loading, unloading, lifting, carrying, lugging, tending, stockpiling, sweeping and cleaning. Laborers are employed in all areas of construction, including commercial and residential new building; highway, bridge, tunnel, and shaft construction; large industrial and environmental restoration projects; and various restoration and demolition jobs.

In highway and road construction, laborers work to clear and prepare sites for construction; help to check site preparations against blueprint specifications regarding locations and grades; complete finish work after the paving material has been spread; perform necessary site clean-up of debris and waste materials and perform traffic control functions. Construction craft laborers do demolition work on existing buildings and structures and perform environmental clean-up on job sites containing hazardous waste, asbestos, lead-based paint and low-level radiation. Laborers 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. They also clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble and debris. They may also assist other craft workers.

Tasks:

• Site/Project Preparation and Maintenance including: clearing, bucking and falling, transportation, erecting, dismantling, and stockpiling of scaffolding and work platforms, grading and compaction, layout and staking protocols, rigging and signaling, site preparation, clean-up and security, soil retention, and soil nailing and steeting.
• Tools, equipment and materials including: tool, equipment and material recognition and preparation, electric, gas pneumatic and tool/equipment, and material storage and security, including forklift, skid steer and hydro mobile.
• Safety, including confined space safety, flagging, signing and traffic safety awareness, tools and equipment and fall protection hazard material recognition.
• Environmental Remediation, including asbestos abatement, hazardous waste abatement, lead abatement, petro-chemical abatement, radiation, and soil remediation.
• Building construction, including concrete (tending placement, removal), landscaping, mason/plasterer tending, pipe laying, decking, stripping, including final clean up of construction site.
• Heavy/highway construction, including asphalt, drilling and blasting, aggregate, pipe laying tunnel and shaft, concrete (tending, placement, removal), bridges, landscaping, and traffic control.
• Install sewer, water, and storm drain pipes, using pipe-laying machinery and laser guidance equipment.

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What Are the Working Conditions?

Most laborers perform physically demanding work. They may lift and carry heavy objects, and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl in awkward positions. Some work at great heights, confined spaces, and outdoors in all weather conditions. Some jobs may expose workers to hazardous materials or chemicals, fumes, odors, loud noise or dangerous machinery. Laborers wear appropriate safety clothing including gloves, hard hats, protective chemical suits and devices to protect their eyes, respiratory system and hearing. Travel maybe required, including overnight.

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How is the Training Structured?

• 3 year training program
• 4,000 hours on-the-job training
• 400 hours paid related instruction
• Must participate in the Transition to Trainer Course during final 1,000 hours

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What are the Application Requirements?

• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age
• Meet required norms on aptitude test (if required)
• Reading, writing, comprehension and communication skills
• Physically able to perform trade
• Valid driver's license or reliable transportation

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What Skills Should I Possess?

• Mathematics- Knowledge of arithmetic and its application.
• Mechanical- Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Equipment selection- Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
• Reading- the ability to read at a sixth grade level
• Communication- Ability to follow oral and written instructions, policies, and procedures.
• Static/Dynamic Strength- The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects. The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time. The ability to use short bursts of muscle force to propel oneself (as in jumping or sprinting), or to throw an object. The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue. Bending legs on knees to come to rest on knee or knees.
• Coordination/Flexibility- The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion. The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs. The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects. The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the extremities. Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, crouching or running on narrow, slippery, or moving surface.
• Stamina- The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time and the ability to lift up to 100 lbs occasionally.

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Who Should I Contact In My Area?

Choose your area:
Northeast
Northwest
Southeast
Southwest

Northeast

Committee Name	Contact This Committee:	OR Contact Your BAS Representative:
ABC of Wisconsin	5330 Wall St. Madison, WI 53718 Phone: (608) 244-6056 Fax: (608) 244-2401	Kathy O'Sullivan Jane Kramer
Fox Valley Area Laborer JAC	4633 LIUNA Way STE 100 De Forest, WI 53532 Phone: (608) 846-5768 Fax: (608) 846-3862	Burt Harding

Northwest

Committee Name	Contact This Committee:	OR Contact Your BAS Representative:
ABC of Wisconsin	5330 Wall St. Madison, WI 53718 Phone: (608) 244-6056 Fax: (608) 244-2401	Kathy O'Sullivan
Northwest WI Construction Craft Laborer JAC	4633 LIUNA Way STE 100 De Forest, WI 53532 Phone: (608) 846-5768 Fax: (608) 846-3862	Myra Stachowicz

Southeast

Committee Name	Contact This Committee:	OR Contact Your BAS Representative:
ABC of Wisconsin	5330 Wall St. Madison, WI 53718 Phone: (608) 244-6056 Fax: (608) 244-2401	Jane Kramer Mary Harrington
South Central Construction Craft Laborers JAC	4633 LIUNA Way STE 100 De Forest, WI 53532 Phone: (608) 846-5768 Fax: (608) 846-3862	Mary Pierce
SE WI Construction Craft Laborers JAC	4633 LIUNA Way STE 100 De Forest, WI 53532 Phone: (608) 846-5768 Fax: (608) 846-3862	Bob Scheldroup

Southwest

Committee Name	Contact This Committee:	OR Contact Your BAS Representative:
ABC of Wisconsin	5330 Wall St. Madison, WI 53718 Phone: (608) 244-6056 Fax: (608) 244-2401	Kathy O'Sullivan
SW WI Area Construction Craft Laborers JAC	4633 LIUNA Way STE 100 De Forest, WI 53532 Phone: (608) 846-5768 Fax: (608) 846-3862	Kathy O'Sullivan

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Additional Resources

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics maintains information on all occupations. For more information on the Construction Craft Laborer trade in the United States, visit:

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos248.htm

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Sources: Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards Position Descriptions,
Apprenticeship in Wisconsin Handbook

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