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General Labourer

A General Labourer performs manual tasks on construction sites, requiring physical fitness, teamwork, and the ability to follow instructions.

How do I become a general labourer

Get qualified to work as a general labourer with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.

Common questions

In Australia, a full time General Labourer generally earns $1,200 per week ($62,400 annual salary) before tax. This is a median figure for full-time employees and should be considered a guide only. As you gain more experience you can expect a potentially higher salary than people who are new to the industry.

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There are currently 38,200 General Labourers in Australia and this number has increased in recent years. Five years ago there were 34,000 people working as a General Labourer. General Labourers can find work in all regions of Australia.

Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights

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A Certificate I or II in Construction is a great way to start if you’d like to begin a career as a General Labourer. You’ll explore topics like working safely on a building site and become familiar with common construction materials and tools. You’ll also develop some basic construction skills. If you’re interested in this sort of career you could also consider a Certificate II in Construction Pathways.

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Further reading

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What can you do with a Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)?

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All general labourer courses

General Labourer careers

A General Labourer attends to manual labour tasks on a building or construction project. You might be involved with a large project and be part of a bigger team or you may work on a smaller job helping out a tradesperson or a builder. Your work will depend on the project involved but you might have to do things like clear a site of rubble and debris, unload building materials or get equipment ready for work to begin.

A General Labourer will often work long days and start early in the morning. You’ll spend a lot of time outdoors and have to be ready for physically demanding work and heavy lifting. You’ll change job sites regularly and will need to have access to transport to different sites. Teamwork is crucial for a General Labourer and you’ll have to be able to follow directions well.