What Do General Laborers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for general laborers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what general laborers do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
General Laborers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about general laborers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
General Laborers resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.
Popular Job Titles For General Laborers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Labor Relations Specialists
- Employee and Labor Relations Specialists
- Union Organizers
- Day Laborers
- General Laborers
- Mason Laborers
- Mechanic Laborers
- Delivery Drivers
- Stock Takers
- Employer Relations Specialists
- Employee Relations Managers
- Grievance and Appeals Specialists
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for general laborers can be found.
Best Industries for General Laborers
General Laborers Jobs By Industry
- Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations: 79.9%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 2.4%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 2.3%
- Federal Government, Military: 2.2%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 1.5%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 1.2%
- Other: 10.5%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of general laborers can be found working in the Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations sector. In 2022, about 79.9% of all jobs for general laborers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Management of Companies and Enterprises (2.4%), State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (2.3%), Federal Government, Military (2.2%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (1.5%) and Education and Hospitals (State Government) (1.2%).
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for General Laborers
Find ways to attract, train, and retain the very best talent by implementing effective benefits and labor-relations strategies.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
Learn the strategic skills needed to be a leader in the evolving field of Human Resources.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do General Laborers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what general laborers do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work general laborers do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that general laborers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for general laborers, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's General Laborers
Based on 2,800 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for General Laborers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Labor Relations | 608 | 22% |
| Employee Relations | 321 | 11% |
| Collective Bargaining | 271 | 10% |
| Arbitration | 219 | 8% |
| Legal Hearings | 170 | 6% |
Top 5 Common Skills for General Laborers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 666 | 24% |
| Management | 619 | 22% |
| Negotiation | 453 | 16% |
| Writing | 391 | 14% |
| Leadership | 323 | 12% |
Based on 2,800 job postings related to general laborers, labor relations was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 22% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for employee relations, collective bargaining, arbitration, legal hearings and labor law were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for general laborers, followed by management, negotiation, writing, leadership and research.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Labor Relations | 608 | 22% |
| Employee Relations | 321 | 11% |
| Collective Bargaining | 271 | 10% |
| Arbitration | 219 | 8% |
| Legal Hearings | 170 | 6% |
| Labor Law | 168 | 6% |
| Conflict Resolution | 157 | 6% |
| Appeals | 138 | 5% |
| Mediation | 128 | 5% |
| Fire Protection | 115 | 4% |
| Promotional Merchandise | 110 | 4% |
| Human Resource Management | 103 | 4% |
| Auditing | 102 | 4% |
| Contract Management | 102 | 4% |
| Warehousing | 98 | 4% |
| Project Management | 93 | 3% |
| Data Analysis | 90 | 3% |
| Accounting | 88 | 3% |
| Performance Management | 88 | 3% |
| Industrial Relations | 80 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 666 | 24% |
| Management | 619 | 22% |
| Negotiation | 453 | 16% |
| Writing | 391 | 14% |
| Leadership | 323 | 12% |
| Research | 319 | 11% |
| Customer Service | 302 | 11% |
| Problem Solving | 282 | 10% |
| Investigation | 277 | 10% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 254 | 9% |
| Lifting Ability | 240 | 9% |
| Operations | 224 | 8% |
| Microsoft Excel | 223 | 8% |
| Microsoft Office | 211 | 8% |
| Detail Oriented | 201 | 7% |
| Planning | 191 | 7% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 165 | 6% |
| Coordinating | 156 | 6% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 146 | 5% |
| Computer Literacy | 144 | 5% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for General Laborers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Labor Relations Specialists | 1,211 | 31.6% |
| Employee and Labor Relations Specialists | 430 | 11.2% |
| Union Organizers | 423 | 11% |
| Day Laborers | 78 | 2% |
| General Laborers | 151 | 3.9% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was labor relations specialists, with 407 unique job postings. Employee and labor relations specialists were second, with 79 postings, followed by union organizers, day laborers and general laborers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to general laborers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Labor Relations Specialists | 1,211 | 31.6% |
| Employee and Labor Relations Specialists | 430 | 11.2% |
| Union Organizers | 423 | 11% |
| Day Laborers | 78 | 2% |
| General Laborers | 151 | 3.9% |
| Mason Laborers | 83 | 2.2% |
| Mechanic Laborers | 255 | 6.7% |
| Delivery Drivers | 48 | 1.3% |
| Stock Takers | 98 | 2.6% |
| Employer Relations Specialists | 76 | 2% |
| Employee Relations Managers | 68 | 1.8% |
| Grievance and Appeals Specialists | 117 | 3.1% |
| Arbitration Specialists | 66 | 1.7% |
| Laborers | 56 | 1.5% |
| Grievance and Appeals Coordinators | 486 | 12.7% |
| Labor Managers | 34 | 0.9% |
| Reconciliation Specialists | 40 | 1% |
| Grievance Coordinators | 29 | 0.8% |
| Hourly Managers | 27 | 0.7% |
| Sales Negotiators | 58 | 1.5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for general laborers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for general laborers.
How much do general laborers make?
General Laborers: How do you become one?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.