How to Hire a Laborer

Why hire a laborer?

The need for new staff can affect your existing team and bottom line. A great laborer can help your business:

• Perform daily work, such as climbing tall structures, lifting heavy loads, loading and unloading and operating equipment by adhering to safety standards
• Perform cleaning activities, including sweeping, dusting and mopping, and ensure basic cleanliness
• Conduct checks and maintenance activities of electrical wiring, heavy equipment and assembly lines

Deciding between a full-time vs freelance laborer

If you have a large business that requires consistent laborer services each week, it may be financially better for your business to hire a full-time laborer. A full-time employee can be cheaper than a freelancer because the hourly cost of a full-time employee is lower. They can also be held to a higher degree of accountability for their services. 

For small businesses that need one-time or infrequent laborer services, it may be ideal to hire a freelance laborer. Paying for a freelancer during those infrequent times may be cheaper than keeping a full-time employee on retainer. 

What are the types of laborers?

Laborer is a broad term for a group of workers who have skills in a variety of areas. Some different types of laborers include: 

• Custodians: Custodians are responsible for keeping businesses clean and organized. They have additional experience performing maintenance on various appliances throughout the building.
• Housekeepers: Housekeepers have several responsibilities in the hospitality industry, such as cleaning recently vacated rooms, washing bedding and taking out the trash. 
• Landscape technician: Landscapers work to design, develop and maintain yards for residential and commercial properties. This includes planting vegetation, removing unwanted shrubbery and keeping everything green.
• Construction worker: Construction workers build structures that are typically made of metal and wood. They’re also responsible for removing leftover debris from the job. 
• Carpenter: Carpenters specifically customize and construct things made of wood, such as frames for houses, cabinets and tables. They’re skilled in reading blueprints and making accurate cuts. 

Where to find laborers

To find the right laborer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Post help wanted signs around the community. Hanging signs around the neighborhood may increase awareness of the job and attract quality candidates. Be sure to specify the type of laborer needed on the flyer. 
• Hire from within. Some of the employees in your company may already possess the skills required for the job. Conduct interviews with potential candidates to see if they’re a good fit. Hiring from within may also be cheaper than hiring a new employee. 
• Search for freelancers online. Many freelance laborers will advertise their services online. Search through these potential candidates’ past work to see if they can do the job.
• Post your job online. Try posting your laborer job on Indeed to find and attract quality laborer candidates.

What are the types of laborers?

Laborer is a broad term for a group of workers who have skills in a variety of areas. Some different types of laborers include: 

• Custodians: Custodians are responsible for keeping businesses clean and organized. They have additional experience performing maintenance on various appliances throughout the building.
• Housekeepers: Housekeepers have several responsibilities in the hospitality industry, such as cleaning recently vacated rooms, washing bedding and taking out the trash. 
• Landscape technician: Landscapers work to design, develop and maintain yards for residential and commercial properties. This includes planting vegetation, removing unwanted shrubbery and keeping everything green.
• Construction worker: Construction workers build structures that are typically made of metal and wood. They’re also responsible for removing leftover debris from the job. 
• Carpenter: Carpenters specifically customize and construct things made of wood, such as frames for houses, cabinets and tables. They’re skilled in reading blueprints and making accurate cuts. 

Writing a laborer job description

A thoughtful description can help find quality laborer candidates. A laborer’s job description includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities and the required and preferred skills for the position.

When writing your laborer job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on laborer jobs, according to Indeed data:

• Laborer
• Warehouse
• Construction
• General labor
• Hiring immediately
• Construction laborer
• Warehouse worker
• Manufacturing
• Labor
• Immediately hiring

Interviewing laborer candidates

Hiring the right person as a laborer ensures the smooth operation of a business’s daily tasks. An experienced laborer ensures all required physical work within the organization is completed in a timely manner and in accordance with organizational standards. 

• Prior experience working on a construction project
• Expertise in handling heavy work equipment
• Ability to perform in a high-stress work environment that demands heavy lifting

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of laborer interview questions for examples (with sample answers).