General labourers are required to have a strong work ethic, have strong attention to detail, and can be relied upon to show up to work on time. You will most frequently work in a construction, manufacturing, or factory setting. Your main task is to assist with operations. This means you could help out other contractors, and other employees to accomplish daily tasks. It is an ideal position for someone who is looking to identify an area to specialize in their career. Many general labourers get into construction trades after they gain experience in this role.
General labourer jobs can entail many different tasks. There can be a lot of differences and also a lot of similarities depending on the employer you work for. Most jobs involve you to operate in a support role. You will clean up the job site, do set up and tear down, and provide assistance as needed to other professionals. Expect to work long and physically demanding hours. Most roles require you to work between 8 and 12-hour shifts. These can be at all hours of the day. You will receive daily instructions from a site or shift supervisor.
Where your career leads you is up to your interest. With the demand for skilled trades on the rise, working as a general labourer now will give you the opportunity to identify new positions and career paths. In the short-term you can work as a site supervisor or take on additional responsibilities in your current role.
If you work as a general labourer in Cambridge or the surrounding area you can expect to make about $18.50 per hour. This is close to $39,000 per year. Experienced general labourers can make close to $23 per hour. Here is some more information on salary expectations for General labourers in Cambridge.
annual: $38,480
monthly: $2,960
weekly: $740
hourly: $18.50
lowest salary: $14.90 per hour
average salary: $18.50
highest salary: $22.70 per hour
junior salary: $14.90-$19.80 per hour
intermediate salary: $16.20-$21.10 per hour
senior salary: $17-$22.70 per hour
Depending on your role, every day can be the same or you could be assigned new tasks each day depending on the needs of your employer. Here are some of the common responsibilities and daily tasks that will be part of your job description.
General labourers work for all size companies in industries across the economy. It’s common to find workers in roles with construction companies, renovators and contractors, skilled trades, manufacturing, warehousing and many others. It’s really up to your area of interest and the type of labour you want to perform.
Success as a general labourer involves having the right skills. Employers are looking for candidates who have a strong work ethic, have a willingness to work, and are open to adding new skills and training to their resume. Here are the skills that will make you successful in this role.
Most employers will require you to have a high school diploma. Additional experience in college, vocational school, or on-the-job training as an apprenticeship is an asset.