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Building and Construction Labourer

Kaimahi Whaihanga

Building and construction labourers do a wide range of physical work on building sites, roads and other large civil construction projects. 

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Secondary education

You usually don’t need specific NCEA levels for this job. NCEA Level 2 English, maths, construction and mechanical technologies and physical education are useful. 

Study fields

Study levels

  • Up to NCEA Level 3
  • Certificate

Useful experience

Useful experience for building and construction labourers includes:

  • building work
  • farm or engineering work
  • work involving physical labour, such as gardening or road construction.

What you will do

Building and construction labourers may do some or all of the following:

  • help put up scaffolding and construct or demolish buildings
  • level ground, dig trenches and lay pipes or cables
  • make and maintain roads, pathways or railways
  • pour and finish concrete
  • operate machines such as mowers or concrete breakers
  • move equipment and materials
  • clean up worksites. 

Skills and knowledge

Building and construction labourers need to have:

  • practical skills
  • knowledge of basic building and construction methods and terms
  • knowledge of worksite safety rules
  • knowledge of correct lifting techniques.

They may also need to be able to operate heavy machinery or drive heavy vehicles.

Pay

Building and construction labourers usually earn

$24-$41

per hour

Building and construction labourers can earn

$23-$53

per hour

Job opportunities
Good
Chances of getting a job as a building and construction labourer are good due to a shortage of workers.

Industry

Construction

Building and construction labourers do a wide range of physical work on building sites, roads and other large civil construction projects. 

Similar jobs in this industry

Entry requirements

You learn on the job to become a construction labourer and experience may be useful.

You may need:

  • experience in similar work
  • a driver licence.

Chances of getting a job

Growth in building work means good opportunities for building and construction labourers

Chances of getting a job as a building and construction labourer are good due to:

  • moderate growth in construction, meaning more building contractor work
  • building work needed to upgrade leaky homes and earthquake-prone buildings.

However, like many building jobs this role can be affected by economic conditions. A downturn in the economy can lower demand for building and construction labourers.

High turnover of building and construction labourers

Job vacancies for building and construction labourers are common because:

  • employers often hire building and construction labourers for short-term contracts
  • turnover among workers can be high
  • building and construction labourers may move into trades training. 

According to the Census, 11,382 building and construction labourers worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Most building and construction labourers work for building firms 

Building and construction labourers work for small or large firms in the building and construction industry.

Find out more about training

Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO)
0800 422 486 - info@bcito.org.nz - www.bcito.org.nz

Progression and specialisations

With further training, building and construction labourers may progress to become scaffolders, carpenters and building contractors or move into other trades.

Building and construction labourers may specialise in:

  • concrete work
  • brick and blocklaying
  • road construction
  • fencing 
  • drainlaying.

Working conditions

Building and construction labourers:

  • usually work eight-hour days, and may work weekends
  • work on construction and demolition sites, gardens, farms, roadsides and bushland
  • work outdoors in all types of weather, and in conditions that may be noisy, dirty and hazardous.

Physical Requirements

Building and construction labourers need to to be fit, healthy and strong as the work can be physically demanding. They may also need to be comfortable working at heights.

Useful personal qualities

Building and construction labourers need to be:

  • safety-conscious
  • hard-working and efficient
  • observant, with an eye for detail
  • able to follow instructions
  • able to work with a wide range of tradespeople. 

Related Wintec courses

Industry

Construction

Building and construction labourers do a wide range of physical work on building sites, roads and other large civil construction projects. 

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