Nearly 93 percent of construction laborers are required to use medium or heavy strength
We measure the strength levels needed for each occupation, which are calculated from the weight a worker needs to lift, the time needed to lift or carry the weight, and the time spent standing and walking. There are five strength levels: sedentary, light, medium, heavy, and very heavy.
Construction laborers typically require either heavy or medium levels of strength. Heavy strength was required for 38.8 percent of construction laborers, making it one of the largest proportions of occupations to require this level of strength. Another 54.0 percent of construction laborers required medium strength. By comparison, 8.9 percent of all civilian workers require heavy strength and 28.2 percent required medium strength.
On average, construction laborers are required to lift or carry 58.8 pounds, compared to the average for all occupations of 26.3 pounds.