Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanised Devices, or Equipment Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanised equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.

The Work

A General Operative or Labourer performs manual labor, most often related to the construction sector and building sites, such as road works, digging ditches, pouring concrete and other heavy manual work. General Operatives are also found in areas such as the motor industry and manufacturing.

Working with construction site machinery and ensuring it is maintained.

Help other machinery operators of equipment and construction vehicles during the work.

Prepare and carrying construction & manufacturing materials (cement, asphalt, plaster, etc) for use by a trades worker.

Clear hasards and waste from the site in line with health & safety.

Have a knowledge of scaffolding and assist in the construction and removal of scaffold and protective fencing for health & safety as required.

Clear and fill earth, and relevant levelling materials, where necessary, from the construction site.

Follow instructions and learn from on-the-job training working as part of a team in construction or manufacturing work places.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Tend pumps, compressors, or generators to provide power for tools, machinery, or equipment or to heat or move materials, such as asphalt.
• Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or tools.
• Signal equipment operators to facilitate alignment, movement, or adjustment of machinery, equipment, or materials.
• Read plans, instructions, or specifications to determine work activities.
• Measure, mark, or record openings or distances to layout areas where construction work will be performed.
• Clean or prepare construction sites to eliminate possible hasards.
• Dig ditches or trenches, backfill excavations, or compact and level earth to grade specifications, using picks, shovels, pneumatic tampers, or rakes.
• Load, unload, or identify building materials, machinery, or tools, distributing them to the appropriate locations, according to project plans or specifications.
• Use computers or other input devices to control robotic pipe cutters or cleaners.
• Perform construction laborer duties at green building sites, such as renewable energy plants or wind turbine installations.

Further Information

• General Operative - Construction - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

General Operative is an entry-level role. There are no specific educational requirements for general operatives, however, any person who operates construction machinery must be at least 18 years of age and have a relevant health & safety certs.

Key Safety Certs: 

Safe Pass Health & Safety Awareness Training is required

Manual Handling 

Working at Height

Occupational First Aid

These courses may be available at low or no cost in FET centres nationwide. You can search for these key skills certs, just add the key word via Search our FET Coursefinder.

Further Training & Development 

Traineeship: Construction skills NFQ level 4-5 Search our FET Coursefinder.

Those who perform well as General Operatives may work their way into supervisory roles, plant operators, civil engineering technicians, or ultimately to construction or project manager roles.

Apprenticeship Those interested in pursuing a career as a General Operative typically find employment and network through experience, apprenticeship, key skills cert & tool or machinery tickets Search our Apprenticeship finder.  

Technology & sustainable building continues to advance so upskilling is key in the Construction sector. 

Last Updated: October, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €28k - €37k

This varies by employer, locations, skills, and if sub contracted or agency. Agency rates can vary per hour between €15.64-€20.86 p/hr rate. These rates are dependant on experience, skills, construction tickets, sessional rates, and shift patterns.

Data Source(s):
Indeed/ WRC

Last Updated: February, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This occupation has been identified as a Job in Demand by the most recent National Skills Bulletin.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Overall employment levels for this occupation have been relatively stable in recent years; the negative employment growth over the five-year period for this occupation relates to changes that occurred on the introduction of the new Labour Force Survey in 2017. Although employment only increased marginally between 2021 and 2022, there was a high volume of recent job hires indicating that job churn is a significant issue. Scaffolders appeared in the employment permit data, the Recruitment Agency Survey and in the DSP Jobs Ireland vacancy data.

The number of QQI scaffolding awards (specific purpose) reached 329 in 2022, and except for 2019 (when there were 333 awards), was higher than at any point over the last 10 years. A new two-year apprenticeship for scaffolding was also announced in August 2021 which aims to alleviate any issues for this occupation. It is not possible, however, to determine from the Labour Force Survey or Census data the employment levels for scaffolders and as such it is difficult to determine the extent to which supply from the education/training system is meeting demand.

• Construction Industry Federation

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