8,050 General Laborer Jobs Nationwide

A general laborer is a person who performs a variety of basic construction or industrial tasks within an organization. On a typical work day, a general laborer might load and unload cargo from boats, trains or trucks, clean up around the job site and help carpenters, plumbers or other types of specialized craftspeople complete various jobs, as necessary.

Skillset: General laborers must be physically fit enough to handle the strenuous tasks required in their day-to-day assignments. They must also be detail-oriented and have superior hand-eye coordination. Strong communication skills help general laborers effectively interact with employers, tradespeople and the other workers within the organization.

Education: Formal education is generally not a requirement to become gainfully employed as a general laborer. However, some organizations might not hire general laborers that do not possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent.

Career Path: General laborer positions require a high level of mental and physical endurance. Therefore, pursue a general laborer career after carefully examining the short- and long-term effects of performing demanding physical labor that might lead to end-of-workday mental exhaustion.