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General Hand Courses

A General Hand performs various tasks on construction sites, including moving materials, setting up equipment, digging, and site preparation.

    • 1.215 AI Exposure: High

      This role has a high level of AI exposure. While some human skills are required, many tasks could be automated or replaced by new technology.

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  • This role has a high level of AI exposure. While some human skills are required, many tasks could be automated or replaced by new technology.
AI exposure data adapted from Felten, Raj & Seamans (2021). Shortage data sourced from Jobs and Skills Australia (2024).

How do I become a General Hand?

Get qualified to work as a General Hand with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.

Common questions

In Australia, a full time General Hand generally earns $1,200 per week ($62,400 annual salary) before tax. This is a median figure for full-time employees and should be considered a guide only. As you gain more experience you can expect a potentially higher salary than people who are new to the industry.

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This industry is likely to experience a strong growth in employment numbers in coming years. There are currently 38,200 people working in this field in Australia and many of them specialise as a General Hand. General Hands may find work across all regions of Australia.

Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights

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If a career as a General Hand interests you, consider enrolling in a Certificate III in Civil Construction. You’ll develop the skills to start work in road, bridge or tunnel construction. This course covers topics including reading plans and job specifications, using a range of hand and power tools and performing accurate measurements and calculations.

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Further reading

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The Power Of Delegation

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All general hand courses

General Hand careers

A General Hand takes on various duties on a construction or building site. You might set up equipment or move building materials where they’re needed. General Hands might load and unload supplies or prepare a site for work by removing debris and unwanted materials. You might dig holes and trenches or erect temporary fencing as instructed.

General Hands should be flexible and willing to perform a range of tasks. You’ll need to be physically fit and able to carry out heavy lifting when required. General Hands must be able to work outdoors in a range of weather conditions. It’s important you can work as part of a team and follow directions closely.

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