Construction trades helpers and labourers
Career Overview
Construction trades helpers and labourers support skilled tradespersons and work on industrial sites in residential, institutional and commercial settings. They prepare and clean up the site, set up and remove equipment/materials and help where needed. On some sites, they may also do security and safety checks.
Job Titles
Duties
Construction trades helpers and labourers:
- Load and unload construction materials, as well as move materials to work areas
- Put up and take down concrete forms, scaffolding, ramps, catwalks shoring and barricades at construction sites
- Mix, pour and spread materials, such as concrete and asphalt
- Help tradespersons, such as carpenters, bricklayers, cement finishers, roofers and glaziers
- Assist heavy equipment operators secure special attachments to equipment
- Guide operators as they move equipment
- Assist in lining up pipes and work on other activities during oil and gas pipeline construction
- Help with drilling and blasting rock at construction sites
- Support miners with excavating, setting up and operating various drills as well as other surface mining machinery
- Use a laser level to grade the earth
- Help demolish buildings using prying bars and other tools, as well as sort, clean and pile salvaged materials
- Remove rubble and waste at construction sites using rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows and other equipment
- Operate pneumatic hammers, vibrators and tampers as directed
- Take care of machines or equipment used in construction, such as mixers, compressors and pumps
- Clean up chemical spills and other waste products, and remove asbestos and other dangerous materials
- Oil and grease hoists and similar equipment
- Direct traffic at or near construction sites
- Perform other activities at construction sites as directed
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
28,995% Employed Full Time
42%People in these jobs work for construction companies, contractors and surface mine and quarry operators. They work in industrial settings, including pipelines, utilities, hydroelectric dams, roadways, bridges, tunnels, shipyards, mining and railways.
For the most part, people in these jobs work outside in a range of weather conditions. Some work may take place indoors.
Depending on the project, individuals may need to work 10 to 12 hours a day. Some schedules have up to 14 consecutive days of work with seven days off. Or, 21 days of consecutive work and 10 days off. Sometimes the work takes place in remote areas. This means that construction trades helpers and labourers may have to leave their families for periods of time.
Construction trades helpers and labourers need to be physically fit since they regularly lift heavy items.
Working on job sites means that people may have to work with or near hazardous items and use equipment, instruments, machinery or power/hand tools. The work is often noisy and has strong smells.
Career Pathways
Continued education, training and apprenticeship programs can lead to more senior positions. Keeping up with new technology and equipment assists individuals who want to move into other positions on a job site.
Progression from rigger to crane operator is possible with experience and additional certification.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
A lot of health and safety training is provided on the job. Other requirements include:
- Some experience as a general construction labourer may be required for construction trade helpers
- Some pipeline workers, such as stabbers, mandrel operators and pre-heater tenders, usually require one season of experience in oil and gas pipeline construction
- A traffic control certificate for flaggers
- A rigging certificate for riggers and slingers
- A driver’s licence with a clean abstract
Education programs in B.C.
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
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.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
28,995Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 825 | 2.8% |
| Kootenay | 930 | 3.2% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 17,700 | 61.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 685 | 2.4% |
| Northeast | 510 | 1.8% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 4,100 | 14.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 4,245 | 14.6% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
12,300Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 230 | 0.4% |
| Kootenay | 270 | 0.5% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 8,520 | 2.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 290 | 0.9% |
| Northeast | 180 | 0.6% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 1,670 | 1.2% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 1,140 | 0.5% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Construction | 10,780 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 340 |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | 230 |
| Manufacturing | 180 |
| Public Administration | 160 |
Insights from Industry
Industry sources say that new technologies and opportunities to learn is important for individuals in this job.
On larger projects, drug and alcohol use is strictly monitored and zero tolerance for violations applies. Most workers on large sites will need to pass drug and alcohol tests to be considered for employment.
Resources
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B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructurewww2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/organizational-structure/ministries-organizations/ministries/transportation-and-infrastructure
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B.C. Road Builders & Heavy Construction Associationwww.roadbuilders.bc.ca
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British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA)www.bccassn.com
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Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA)www.icba.ca
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Skilled Trades Employment Program (STEP)www.stepbc.ca
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SkilledTradesBCskilledtradesbc.ca/
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Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA)vrca.ca
