Manufacturing & ProductionISCO 9313
Building construction worker
A building construction worker is a person who prepares and supports building work on a construction site, doing the preparatory and clearing work that helps the specialist trades.
Check yourself in a minute: building construction worker
Rate 5 of the 20 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
install wood elements in structures
apply finish to concrete
inspect masonry work
check compatibility of materials
dig soil mechanically
About building construction worker
The worker transports construction materials to where they will be used, inspects those materials before they go in, and checks material compatibility, which means checking that a mortar, sealant or fixing suits the materials it will join. Earth-moving machinery is operated where the task calls for it.
The worker also carries out simpler building tasks: pouring concrete, preparing surfaces for plastering by cleaning and priming them, and installing wooden elements in buildings. In this work the building construction worker assists specialists such as bricklayers, carpenters and plasterers.
The worker also prepares and clears the work area. The worker follows health and safety procedures in construction throughout, including around earth-moving machinery and concrete pouring. The job calls for physical fitness for moving materials and a working knowledge of building materials and safety rules. Formal requirements are set by the employer and by national construction rules.
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (20)
install wood elements in structuresinstall wood elements in structuresInstall elements made of wood and wood-based composite materials, such as doors, stairs, plinths, and ceiling frames. Assemble and affix the elements, taking care to prevent gaps.apply finish to concreteapply finish to concreteFinish concrete using a variety of techniques like polishing and acid staining.inspect masonry workinspect masonry workInspect finished masonry work. Check if the work is straight and level, if each brick is of adequate quality, and if the joints are full and well finished.check compatibility of materialscheck compatibility of materialsMake sure the materials are fit to be used together, and if there are any foreseeable interferences.dig soil mechanicallydig soil mechanicallyUse mechanical equipment to dig up and move soil. Form pits according to excavation plans.pour concretepour concretePour concrete into a form from a mixer truck chute, hopper or hose. Pour the correct amount to balance efficiency with the risk of the concrete not setting completely.transport construction suppliestransport construction suppliesBring construction materials, tools and equipment to the construction site and store them properly taking various aspects into account such as the workers' safety and protection from deterioration.operate digging construction equipmentoperate digging construction equipmentOperate and use construction equipment, such as digger derricks, backhoes, track hoes, front-end loaders, trenchers, or cable ploughs.work in a construction teamwork in a construction teamWork as part of a team in a construction project. Communicate efficiently, sharing information with team members and reporting to supervisors. Follow instructions and adapt to changes in a flexible ma...inspect construction suppliesinspect construction suppliesCheck construction supplies for damage, moisture, loss or other problems before using the material.mix concretemix concreteUse compact concrete mixers or various ad-hoc containers such as wheelbarrows to mix concrete. Prepare the correct quantities of cement, water, aggregate and optional added ingredients, and mix the in...prepare wall for wallpaperprepare wall for wallpaperMake sure the wall is prepared for papering. Remove any dirt, grease, or debris. Make sure the wall is smooth and dry. Coat plaster or other porous material with a sealer to make sure the wallpaper pa...prepare surface for paintingprepare surface for paintingMake sure the surface to be painted is free of scratches and dents. Assess the porosity of the wall and the need for coating. Remove any grease, dirt, moisture and traces of previous coverings.move soilmove soilUse machinery to load and unload soil. Take care not to overload the machine. Dump the soil judiciously in the assigned place.follow health and safety procedures in constructionfollow health and safety procedures in constructionApply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.install construction profilesinstall construction profilesInstall a variety of metal or plastic profiles used to attach materials to each other or to structural elements. Cut them to size if called for.use safety equipment in constructionuse safety equipment in constructionUse elements of protective clothing such as steel-tipped shoes, and gear such as protective goggles, in order to minimise risk of accidents in construction and to mitigate any injury if an accident do...discharge cementdischarge cementDischarge the cement from the mixer into cans.prepare surface for plasteringprepare surface for plasteringPrepare the wall or other surface to be plastered. Make sure the wall is free of impurities and moisture, and is not too smooth as this will prevent proper adherence of the plastering materials. Decid...place drywallplace drywallPlace sections of drywall against a surface. Put joists in place. Plan the amount of drywall necessary and the pattern they will be installed in to minimise the number of joints.
Optional (28) — show
plumbing toolsplumbing toolsA variety of common plumbing tools and their usage cases, limitations and risks.carpentrycarpentryConstruction methods related to timber items, such as construction of roofs, floors and timber framed buildings and other related products such as doors or skirting boards.types of concrete pumpstypes of concrete pumpsThe types of machines used to pump liquid concrete such as the boom concrete pumps used for large construction projects or line pumps generally used for small-scale works.demolition techniquesdemolition techniquesVarious methods of demolishing structures, like controlled implosion, use of a wrecking ball or jackhammer, or selective demolition. Usage cases of these methods based on type of structure, time const...types of plastering materialstypes of plastering materialsTypes of plastering materials containing different proportions of materials such as gypsum, cement and lime, each with their own properties, usage cases and cost.building construction principlesbuilding construction principlesThe component elements and principles of building construction such as types of wall construction and foundations, defects in walls and roofs and ways to address such defects.construction methodsconstruction methodsThe various techniques and methods for erecting buildings and other constructions.building materials industrybuilding materials industrySupplier, brands and types of products and goods available on the market of building materials.construction industryconstruction industryThe products, brands and suppliers active in the construction field.plaster surfacesplaster surfacesApply plaster to a prepared surface manually or using a mechanical plaster spreader. Finish the plaster layer with a plastering trowel or screed. Polish the surface to a matte finish to make sure any ...operate masonry power sawoperate masonry power sawUse a masonry power saw to cut bricks to the right size and shape. Operate a table saw or hand-held saw.operate concrete pumpsoperate concrete pumpsOperate the remote control of the robotic arm of a concrete pump while monitoring the pouring process.communicate with construction crewscommunicate with construction crewsExchange information with the construction crews or supervisors to ensure smooth progress of the construction project. Obtain updates on the progress and any obstacles, and inform the crews of any cha...install roof windowsinstall roof windowsInstall various types of windows on the roof such as skylight, dormer windows and flat roof windows.inspect construction sitesinspect construction sitesEnsure health and safety during the construction project by inspecting the construction site regularly. Identify risks of putting people in danger or of damaging construction equipment.lay tileslay tilesFirmly place the tiles on a surface prepared with adhesive. Adjust their position to so they are flush and evenly spaced. Take care not to disturb the surface. Insert spacers in the joints. When worki...read standard blueprintsread standard blueprintsRead and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.install plumbing systemsinstall plumbing systemsInstall systems of pipes, drains, fittings, valves, and fixtures designed for the distribution of potable water for drinking, heating, washing and waste removal.place concrete formsplace concrete formsSet up forms out of wood, plywood, various plastics, or other suitable materials to form concrete into supportive columns or walls. Place sheathing delineating the shape of the planned structure and u...set windowset windowPlace a window in a prepared position such as a wall or floor, in case of full height glass. Use measurement tools to ascertain that the window is straight and plumb.apply adhesive wall coatingapply adhesive wall coatingApply an adhesive coating, usually based on PVA, to a wall to ensure a good bond between the wall and a covering layer, such as plaster.cut wall chasescut wall chasesCut a narrow channel in a wall or other partition in order to run cables through it. Cut the channel straight and without causing unnecessary damage. Be sure to avoid existent wires. Lead the cables t...finish mortar jointsfinish mortar jointsUse a trowel to apply extra mortar to joints to smoothen and finish them after the mortar has partially hardened. Make sure that the joints are full to prevent dampness and other outside influences fr...screed concretescreed concreteSmooth the surface of freshly poured concrete using a screed.fit doorsfit doorsFit a door into a prepared space and attach the hinges to the door and door frame. Make sure the door is straight and flush.construct wood roofsconstruct wood roofsBuild the structural elements of wood flat or pitched roofs. Lay rafters to provide strength and battens at regular intervals to account for lateral forces and attach any covering. Back the weight-bea...plan construction of housesplan construction of housesDraw up blueprints for the construction of houses and other types of buildings. Calculate and estimate the required materials and coordinate and supervise activities of workers executing the several c...secure heavy construction equipmentsecure heavy construction equipmentSecure heavy equipment such as tower cranes or concrete pumps before, during, and after use to prevent damage to the machines, workforce or construction site. Take precautionary steps such as retracti...
Related Occupations
Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.
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Frequently asked questions
What does a building construction worker do?
Building construction workers prepare and maintain building construction activities on construction sites. They perform preparation and clean-up work in order to assist specialised construction workers.
What skills does a building construction worker need?
A building construction worker needs 20 essential skills, including install wood elements in structures, apply finish to concrete, inspect masonry work, check compatibility of materials, dig soil mechanically.
Will AI replace building construction worker jobs?
The AI disruption score for building construction worker is 17/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: read standard blueprints, types of plastering materials, inspect construction supplies. Most resilient: use safety equipment in construction, carpentry, plaster surfaces.
AI Replacement Risk
17/ 100
Low Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
ISCO GroupLabourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport
Essential Skills20
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