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Alabama Department of Labor

Labor Market Information Division
SOC: 47-2061 Construction Laborers
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).
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Education: These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
OJT: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Tasks: Control traffic passing near, in, or around work zones. Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hazards. Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials. Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities. Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications. Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed. Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, or compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, or rakes. Mix, pour, or spread concrete, using portable cement mixers. Tend pumps, compressors, or generators to provide power for tools, machinery, or equipment or to heat or move materials, such as asphalt. Erect or dismantle scaffolding, shoring, braces, traffic barricades, ramps, or other temporary structures. Provide assistance to craft workers, such as carpenters, plasterers, or masons. Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools. Position or dismantle forms for pouring concrete, using saws, hammers, nails, or bolts. Smooth or finish freshly poured cement or concrete, using floats, trowels, screeds, or powered cement finishing tools. Operate jackhammers or drills to break up concrete or pavement. Apply weather-stripping to reduce energy loss.
License: License not required.
Outlook: Good
Alabama Employment Outlook
Alabama Wage Data
Hourly Wage   Annual Wage
Entry $10.51   Entry $21,858.00
Mean $14.50   Mean $30,158.00
Experience $16.50 Experience $34,318.00

The data is based on the May 2017 Occupation Employment Survey employment and wage estimate file. The wages have been aged using the most current ECI factors reflecting wages as of June 2018.

Alabama Projections
Estimated Employment 2016Projected Employment 2026Annual Average OpeningsAnnual Growth Rate
10,85011,6701,215.73
Related Occupations: Postsecondary Institutions With Programs:
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
Carpet Installers
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
Machine Feeders and Offbearers
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
No postsecondary schools reported programs.
Occupational Videos
47-2061.00 Construction Laborers