The Career
Construction laborers can be found on almost all construction sites performing a wide range of tasks from the very easy to the potentially hazardous. They can be found at building, highway and heavy construction sites; residential and commercial sites; tunnel and shaft excavations; and demolition sites.
Many of the jobs they perform require physical strength, training and experience. Construction laborers clean and prepare construction sites. They also remove trees and debris, tend pumps, compressors and generators, and build forms for pouring concrete.
Professional Traits
Those pursuing a career in this field should:
- Have manual dexterity and solid eye-hand coordination
- Be in good physical condition
- Have a good sense of balance
- Be able to work as a member of a team
- Have the ability to solve arithmetic problems quickly and accurately
Employment and Salary Information
The construction laborer profession is experiencing higher-than-average growth, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. By 2020, the number of positions is expected to increase by 25 percent. Median hourly earnings for construction laborers were $13.66 (or $28,410 per year) in May 2010.
The Program
The East Central College Building Construction program provides students with a solid understanding of the construction industry. It is offered at the ECC Washington site in partnership with Four Rivers Career Center.
Students enrolled in the program study building construction and participate in lab demonstrations in the well-equipped shop area. Areas of study include concrete, blueprint reading, surveying and layout, home maintenance, carpentry, electricity, plumbing, welding, sheet metal and preventative building maintenance.
Students should plan on attending full-time and can choose from a morning or afternoon time block. Those currently in high school can choose to articulate coursework to the AAS degree program and continue with the general education block of coursework at ECC.
Admissions Requirements
Students must have completed:
- High school diploma or the equivalent (documentation must be sent to the registration office)
- Application for admission
- A placement test as specified by the college (please note: some coursework requires minimum placement results)
Transfer Options
The AAS degree is designed for students seeking employment immediately upon graduation. However, many of the credits, particularly the general education electives received with this degree, may qualify as transfer credit at four-year schools.
These decisions are made solely by the bachelor degree-granting institution, not ECC. Students seeking to transfer are advised to contact the institution of their choice before beginning a program or reviewing other degrees and coursework offered through East Central College.
Accreditation
East Central College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
30 N. LaSalle St., Suite 2400
Chicago, Illinois 60602-2504
800-621-7440
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