Construction Operative

Construction operatives, also known as labourers and groundworkers, work alongside skilled tradespeople to build houses, factories, offices, roads, bridges, airports and other structures.

Tasks will depend on the stage of the construction project, but can include:

• preparing the ground for construction work and installing site facilities, hoardings, materials and equipment
• general groundwork, marking out and digging shallow trenches
• formwork, creating shuttering that holds setting concrete in place
• steelwork that reinforces concrete structures
• creating retainer walls to support trenches during excavation work
• concreting, preparing smooth foundations and backfilling trenches
• preparing materials, such as cement and plaster
• road and pavement construction.

Construction operatives receive instructions from the site supervisor or manager or work from drawings, plans or written instructions. They use hand, power and machine tools and equipment. With training, they may also operate plant equipment, including dumper trucks or excavators.

The hours are usually around 39 a week, Monday to Friday. Overtime is common. Most tasks are outdoors. The work is very physical and involves loading, carrying and storing materials. Employers will provide protective personal equipment and instructions about use.

Trainee construction operatives and apprentices can earn between £8,639 and £14,439, rising to £21,111 a year with supervisory duties.

Construction operatives should be:

• practical
• physically fit
• responsible
• able to work well in a team
• customer focused
• interested in construction.

There are estimated to be around 85,240 construction operatives and labourers working in England. They work for building and engineering companies, specialist subcontractors, central and local government departments and utility companies.

There are no set entry requirements, although some GCSEs, including maths, English, and technology subjects, can be useful. ConstructionSkills offers a general Construction Operative Apprenticeship, which is a typical route in.

Trainees normally receive on-the-job training, working alongside experienced operatives and tradespeople. This may be combined with attending a college or training provider, by day or block release, to work towards a relevant NVQ Diploma, available Levels 1 to 3. Operatives working on construction sites need to have a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card.

Construction operatives may specialise in particular construction projects or progress to specific trades such as bricklaying, plastering or carpentry. Others may move into site supervisory or management roles.

Further details