Start Your Concrete Apprenticeship

What you will do Concrete workers may do some or all of the following: read and interpret plans or drawings weigh and mix concrete materials (gravel, sand, cement and water) sample and test the mix prepare boxing (formwork) and/or lay reinforcing pour, spread, compact, smooth and polish concrete, by hand or machine drive heavy vehicles such as concrete trucks. Specialised concrete workers may also: install items such as anchor bolts into concrete spray concrete on areas such as retaining walls and swimming pools cut concrete using power cutters. Skills and knowledge Concrete workers need to have: knowledge of concrete types and different ways of using them knowledge of concrete-setting times knowledge of how to lay and finish concrete and operate the machines that are involved basic carpentry skills. Working conditions Concrete workers: usually work regular business hours, but may also work early mornings, evenings and weekends work on buildings and construction sites, roads, bridges, and other structures work in most weather, in conditions that can be hazardous, dusty, dirty and noisy travel locally to construction sites. Pay Pay for concrete workers varies depending on skills and experience. Concrete worker apprentices may start on the apprentice training rate. Unqualified concrete workers usually earn between minimum wage or a little above, depending on their experience. Qualified concrete workers usually earn up to $30 an hour. Experienced qualified concrete workers and those in team leader roles may earn more than this. Source: Seek and Trade Me Jobs, 2018. PAYE.net.nz website – use this calculator to convert pay and salary information Employment New Zealand website – information about minimum wage rates (This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our pay information)

Entry requirements There are no specific requirements to become a concrete worker. However, once you are employed it is useful to complete an apprenticeship and gain a National Certificate in precast concrete, concrete product manufacture, or concrete construction. The Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) oversees concrete apprenticeships. Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation website – information on concrete qualifications Secondary education There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a concrete worker, but maths, physical education, English and construction and mechanical technologies to at least NCEA Level 1 are useful. Year 11 and 12 learners can find out more about the construction industry and gain relevant skills, by doing a National Certificate in Building, Construction and Allied Trades (Levels 1 and 2) through the BConstructive programme. For Year 11 to 13 learners, trades academies and the STAR and Gateway programmes are good ways to gain relevant experience and skills. These programmes may help you gain an apprenticeship, but do not reduce the time it takes to complete it. BConstructive website – information on the BConstructive programme Personal requirements Concrete workers need to be: careful and accurate responsible and reliable hard-working and practical able to follow instructions able to work well in a team. You need a good, strong work ethic because it isn’t easy work. Photo: Will Waru Will Waru Concrete Worker Useful experience Useful experience for concrete workers includes: paving bricklaying work in the construction industry. Physical requirements Concrete workers need to have a good level of fitness, strong arms and a strong back as they have to do heavy lifting and climbing. They also need to be comfortable working at heights.

Career opportunities Manufacture, construction, production, leading hand, supervisor, project manager, contract manager, contract supervisor, business owner Strong demand for concrete workers Chances of getting a job as a concrete worker are good due to: steady growth in construction, which is predicted to continue until at least 2023 the $850 million Transmission Gully project north of Wellington, which is expected to be under construction until 2020 national and local government plans to spend over $5 billion on transport each year until 2028, with a focus on building and maintaining safer roads, walkways and cycleways the tendency for concrete workers to move to less physically demanding roles as they age, which creates vacancies a shortage of workers. However, like many building jobs, this role can be affected by economic conditions. A downturn in the economy can lower demand for concrete workers. According to the Census, 1,683 concrete workers worked in New Zealand in 2018. Types of employers varied Concrete workers in the construction sector may be employed by: contractors that specialise in working with concrete builders and building firms that employ a range of tradespeople and labourers. Some concrete workers are self-employed or work in small teams that contract to builders. Cement and concrete plant workers are employed by cement and concrete manufacturers. Sources Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation, ‘Concrete’, accessed October 2018, (www.bcito.org.nz). Leach, A, information and communications manager, Concrete NZ, careers.govt.nz interview, September 2018. Lewes, A, industry advocate, Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation, careers.govt.nz interview, October 2018. Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, ‘National Construction Pipeline Report 2018’, July 2018, (www.mbie.govt.nz). Ministry of Transport, ‘Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2018/19-2027/28’, June 2018, (www.transport.govt.nz). New Zealand Transport Agency, ‘Transmission Gully’, accessed October 2018, (www.nzta.govt.nz). Ranchhod, S, ‘Construction Bulletin – July 2018’, July 2018, (www.westpac.co.nz). Stats NZ, ‘2018 Census Data’, 2019. (This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our job opportunities information) Progression and specialisations Concrete workers can progress to become team leaders or may start a business and manage their own team of concrete workers. They may also move into construction project management. They may specialise in: manufacturing concrete products producing cement and concrete as a raw material constructing buildings out of concrete.