The construction trade is traditionally an area where most workers build their skills through experience and on-the-job training, not through college or school courses. Unlike many other industries, this has not really changed much and is still true for the majority of construction workers. Specialist trades, like carpenters and electricians, may have undergone formal training and served apprenticeships, but most construction workers will not have done.

So what makes the perfect construction worker?

Construction work is intensely practical and physical, so a base requirement for anyone working on a construction site is physical fitness and good hand-eye coordination. Over time, fitness will develop into a practiced strength and stamina that will allow accurate, reliable heavy work to be performed safely for extended periods. There is no substitute for experience, in construction.

It's not all manual work, and the modern construction worker will need to be comfortable using a wide variety of tools, from basic implements such as club hammers and shovels through to power tools for drilling, digging and cutting, and machinery such as cement mixers and portable generators.

Many specific skills will be learnt from more experienced workers whilst on-the-job, and this aspect of construction highlights another very important attribute for a good construction worker – teamwork. Construction work requires a heavy reliance on coworkers, and anyone who is not good at working with others will not get on well in a construction environment – indeed, such people could constitute a safety hazard to themselves and others.

In the United States, the construction industry has a very high proportion of Latino workers, especially in areas such as Texas, California and New Mexico. Inevitably, many of these workers are often new immigrants and are poorly-educated, with limited or no English skills. That being so, the ability to speak both Spanish and English is becoming increasingly valuable for those involved in construction site work in the US.

Other educational skills that are beneficial are a reasonable proficiency in reading and basic mathematics, and for those wishing to progress to more specialist or supervisory roles, the ability to understand and work from technical drawings.

The lack of formal qualifications or training for most construction roles means that demonstrable experience is vital for construction workers looking for the best jobs. A good, relevant work history, with references, or a military service record are looked upon very favorably by construction employers, and make a good starting point for a career in construction.

As this article has shown, the perfect construction worker is a multi-skilled and well-rounded person and a valuable employee. Although construction pay rates can vary, they are often higher than those for other semi-skilled employment such as factory work, reflecting the skilled and demanding nature of the work.