Anyone looking for San Antonio construction jobs may be interested in a career as a construction laborer.

Construction laborers perform tasks involving physical labor at building, highway, and heavy construction projects; tunnel and shaft excavations; and demolition sites. They also often operate hand and power tools of all types.

In addition, construction laborers may be responsible for cleaning and preparing sites, digging trenches, setting braces to support the sides of excavations, erecting scaffolding, cleaning up rubble and debris, and removing asbestos, lead and other hazardous waste materials.

The majority of construction laborers can learn the skills they need through on-the-job training, but some positions require specialized training, and many job seekers opt to take formal apprenticeships to get an edge on the competition.

According to the Texas Workforce Commission, construction laborers in San Antonio are paid slightly less than their state and national counterparts, but can expect good employment opportunities during the near future.

Employment in South Texas is expected to increase from 750 workers during 2006 to 900 workers by 2016, accounting for 150 additional jobs and a growth rate of 20 percent. Employment in Texas should increase from 131,700 workers during 2006 to 163,950 workers by 2016, accounting for 32,250 additional jobs and a growth rate of 24.50 percent.

Across the nation, employment of construction laborers is anticipated to increase from 1,232,002 workers during 2006 to 1,366,496 workers by 2016, accounting for 134,500 additional jobs and a growth rate of 10.90 percent.

The industries that employ construction laborers throughout the nation include:

• Utility system construction - 12.89 percent
• Non-residential building construction - 12.45 percent
• Foundation, structure and building exterior contractors - 10.84 percent
• Other specialty trade contractors - 10.04 percent
• Highway, street and bridge construction - 8.47 percent
• Employment services - 7.65 percent
• Local government, except education - 5.41 percent
• Building equipment contractors - 5.16 percent
• Building finishing contractors - 4.74 percent
• Residential building construction - 2.96 percent
• Other heavy and civil engineering construction - 2.28 percent

During 2008, the average wage for construction laborers in South Texas was $9.09 per hour, while the average wage for those throughout Texas was $10.96 and the average wage for those across the nation was $15.51 per hour.

Labels: San Antonio construction jobs