How to Hire a Construction Worker [Updated 2025]

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Do you need to hire a construction worker? Construction workers perform a variety of physical labour tasks on construction sites, often supporting qualified tradespeople to do their work productively.

Understanding the steps behind hiring a construction worker, including job seeker data, salary information and key terms to include in your job description, can help you stand out from the competition to effectively attract and hire quality candidates.

Hire your next Construction Worker today.

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Hire your next Construction Worker today.

Post a Job

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Construction Laborer: What is the cost of hiring?

What is a construction worker?

A construction worker undertakes routine tasks on a construction site, ensuring required materials are readily available and machinery is maintained and ready to use. They prepare work sites and perform activities such as digging holes, assembling scaffolding and unloading materials, as well as support qualified tradespeople by ensuring they have the equipment they need to do their roles. Construction workers also complete basic construction tasks as outlined by a foreman or team leader, either independently or as part of a team.

Why hire a construction worker?

Construction workers are useful for undertaking basic tasks on a construction site, ensuring qualified tradespeople can efficiently carry out higher-level and specialised tasks. They can be particularly useful to employers if there is a shortage of qualified tradespeople to hire, as tradespeople can focus on using their advanced skills while construction workers complete preparatory, maintenance and clean-up work. Construction workers can give employers greater flexibility when scaling their workforce up and down on construction projects, as they are more commonly hired as casual employees than qualified tradespeople.

Contributions of a great construction worker include:

increased efficiency and productivity on construction sites by delegating basic tasks to construction workers, enabling skilled tradespeople to perform higher-level tasks
workforce flexibility, as construction workers can be hired casually on an as-needed basis
overcome skill shortages as fewer qualified tradespeople can be employed, with construction workers completing basic tasks.

Defining your hiring needs for construction workers

Consider your workforce flexibility needs to determine whether a full-time, part-time or casual employee is best for your construction project when hiring a construction worker. Also, analyse the type of work that you will require a construction worker to perform and whether you require them to already hold common work site qualifications such as an Elevated Work Platforms ticket or an Enter and Work in Confined Spaces ticket.

What are the types of construction workers?

Construction workers may also be referred to as construction labourers.

When writing your construction worker job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on construction worker jobs, according to Indeed data:

labourer
construction
construction labourer
construction worker
general labourer
forklift driver
482 visa sponsorship, construction
visa sponsorship, construction
visa sponsorship, labour.

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Where to find construction workers?

To find the right construction worker for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

Employee referrals: Asking existing employees to refer candidates from their networks who may be suitable may help ensure cultural fit.
Labour hire companies: Engaging a labour hire company to provide construction workers can reduce administration tasks for employers while providing them with a flexible pool of talent.
Trade schools or vocational education and training providers: Contacting training providers to suggest students who have obtained basic skills and are looking for experience in the workforce may provide suitable candidates for part-time or casual roles.
Post your job online: Try posting your construction worker job on Indeed to find and attract quality construction worker candidates.

Skills to look for in a Construction Worker

A successful construction worker candidate will typically have the following skills and competencies, which may be gained through a variety of experience, training or education:

White Card, also known as a construction induction card
knowledge of work health and safety practices as well as industry codes and regulations
ability to follow instructions
teamwork
attention to detail
time management.

Writing a construction worker job description

Now that you know the key skills, salary expectations, popular job seeker search terms and hiring insights for a construction worker, you’re ready to write a job description.

A construction worker job description typically includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities, and the required and preferred skills for the position. You may also want to include information about your company culture, benefits and perks to attract candidates to your vacant role.

Ready to get started? See our full guide for writing construction worker job descriptions.

Interviewing construction worker candidates

Strong candidates for construction worker positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

construction tickets and licences held
understanding of work health and safety practices
ability to work in a team, follow instructions and solve problems if they arise
experience with and interest in working in the construction industry, including on outdoor work sites or at heights
skills in dealing with conflict or working in a high-pressure environment.

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of construction worker interview questions for examples (with sample answers).

FAQs about how to hire a construction worker

The job titles construction worker and construction labourer are interchangeable. Both roles complete basic tasks on a construction site and support qualified tradespeople such as carpenters, plumbers and electricians. Both roles require employees to undertake physical labour, and prior qualifications, aside from the White Card, typically are not required. Some employers may prefer to use the title construction labourer to attract candidates interested in labouring work if the role involves a heavy amount of physical labour. Construction worker may be a more suitable job title for employers who require candidates to assist qualified tradespeople in their skilled tasks, rather than undertake heavy physical labour.

Because construction workers perform basic tasks, you may still need to hire qualified tradespeople who have the advanced skills to do essential work on your construction site. However, having construction workers in your workforce enables your qualified tradespeople to spend more of their time performing higher-level tasks and make the most of their skills. It also ensures tradespeople can focus on the specialised tasks at hand, rather than on minor tasks such as unloading and moving materials. These advantages may be particularly useful if there are skill shortages in your industry or your region, making it difficult for you to source qualified tradespeople. Construction workers can also be employed on a lower salary, helping you to meet budget constraints.

If presented with two good construction worker candidates who meet all your essential and preferred requirements, it may be very difficult to choose the right candidate. Try not to compare the candidates based on their qualifications, experience and technical skills alone, but also consider their cultural fit for your organisation. Soft skills such as adaptability and communication can be more advantageous than technical skills, which can be obtained on the job or through further training. Also, consider asking for an opinion from outside the hiring team or an employee who will be working closely with the construction worker, such as the tradesperson they will support, as they may be able to provide a unique perspective.