What Are the Different Types of Construction Jobs?

The expression “it takes a village” applies to the line of construction. Whether these diligent workers are creating a new school, shopping center or home, a team of varied and skilled people is needed to successfully craft the buildings that define communities.  Here’s a look at the types of construction jobs you’ll find on a job site and what each role entails.

1. Construction Laborer

When most people think of construction, they picture the people they see on-site with hardhats and tools nestled in their waist-belts. These are the laborers who form the backbone of most projects.

The duties of a construction laborer are often diverse and vary depending on where a worker finds themselves located — meaning this job isn’t lacking when it comes to variety. Construction workers mix and pour concrete, assist in the regulation of traffic, load and unload equipment, and prep a site for its next project.

2. Electrician

Electricians are not unfamiliar to the world of construction. After workers lay the foundation for a building, electricians are responsible for adding wiring and circuitry.

While it’s true that electricians fix electrical issues, they’re also responsible for establishing the systems that will generate light and power in new buildings. Electricians in this industry typically require mechanical skills and knowledge that help them complete their jobs to the fullest extent. A person interested in this position should know how to use scientific software and data while having a keen eye for design and repair.

3. Civil Engineer

A construction project doesn’t start the second a team of workers arrives on-site. Way before that, a group of individuals must brainstorm and analyze how this work will be performed first.

Civil engineers are the brains behind a construction project. These workers form a plan and design for a prospective project. If changes are necessary, civil engineers develop them for review. While these individuals form the backbone of a site’s planning, it’s not uncommon to find them guiding construction workers through the process, too.

4. Mason

Masons form the foundation of construction sites — and not just metaphorically. As the name of this construction job indicates, they use masonry units, such as stones, bricks, blocks and concrete, to build a bigger structure.

Beyond the larger-scale role of forming buildings, masonry usually requires an individual to complete smaller tasks. They include mixing and applying mortar, cutting bricks down into their desired sizes and polishing the final structure.

5. Carpenter

Carpenters take on many roles in the construction industry.

Carpenters on a construction site use machinery such as scissor lifts to install drywall and have hands-on experience with myriad hand and power tools necessary to remodel and repair.

6. Welder

A construction site consists of many different working parts — and welders are one of them. Materials are constantly shifted around a location and are mounted together until a building starts to form.

Sometimes, however, the smaller pieces required for the bigger picture need to be transformed or put together. This is where a welder comes into play.

Welders use powerful heating tools to combine separate objects. They fuse a multitude of materials together, ranging in scope from plastic to metal.

7. Plumber

When most people think of construction work, they sometimes forget about the professionals who are responsible for the buildings’ fixtures. A large portion of plumbers find work in the construction industry. As opposed to fixing plumbing issues, in a way many contractors do when visiting homes, construction plumbers focus more heavily on establishing water lines in a building.

However, a lot of plumbers are also responsible for problem-solving myriad issues that may pop up on a construction site. Whether a sewer line is blocked or a toilet isn’t flushing correctly after installation, plumbers work diligently to ensure the proper functioning of a building’s system.

This work is diverse because working conditions can vary considerably. Some plumbers work alone while others perform tasks in teams. Projects can be indoors or outdoors, too.

8. Plasterer

Before a room is ready for decoration and painting, it has to be plastered first. Construction plasterers work to ensure the interior surfaces of a building are functional and ready for decoration.

To prep rooms on a project site, these workers will use plaster to cover walls. This is fairly common in newer buildings that use plasterboard or wallboard in a room’s interior, as opposed to brick. Once their job is complete, a designer can take over and begin to paint and decorate the rooms to add a touch of personalization to each space.

Building a Career

When you visit a construction site, you’ll find that a team of diverse and skilled workers is working diligently with a variety of tools and technologies to complete a project. Regardless of what type of construction jobs employees find themselves pursuing, each one plays a crucial role in building, fixing or prepping a building on a particular site.