General laborer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "General laborer" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a worker who performs various tasks, often in construction or manual labor settings, without specialized skills. Example: "The company is hiring a general laborer to assist with various projects around the site."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

My dad worked as a general laborer.

The Guardian

One afternoon I got to talking with Jeff Oset, a general laborer on the project and a member of Local 472 of the Heavy & General Construction Laborers Unionn.

The New Yorker

Fund v. Brown, 32 Cal.App.4th 188, 202-203, 38 Cal.Rptr.2d 98 (1995) (noting that "truck driving while perhaps not a skilled craft requires abilities beyond those possessed by a general laborer").

Harvard University

She does not work, but her husband is a general laborer working at the minimum wage; however, even at that wage, pay is deducted for transportation and other expenses.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In general, laborers of labor-migrant households tended to be younger and more educated than those of non-labor-migrant households.

Human Ecology

Different labor laws for agricultural and non-agricultural work: Employers who hire general laborers splitting time between the vineyard and winery are subject to different laws between agricultural and nonagricultural work hours.

Cornell University

General site workers, including equipment operators, general laborers, technicians, and other supervised personnel, should have training that provides an overview of the site, specific hazards and their risks, hazard recognition, the proper usage of the engineered controls, and other means of controlling the site's hazards as well as risks has.

Protecting Personnel at Hazardous Waste Sites

Janet M. Hertzog, director of work force development at the community college, said the curriculum will start in June with a certification program for "roustabouts," as the general laborers who assist on well pads are called, that includes 133 hours of intensive training.

The New York Times

"They put their heads down and work," said John Delgado, business manager of Local 79, a general building laborers' union in New York.

The New York Times

The thing is, so much of e-waste is toxic or otherwise dangerous (not to mention the poor conditions in general for laborers) that the towns where it is the chief industry are seriously troubled.

TechCrunch

Still, two construction jobs -- roofers and general construction laborers -- were among the top 10 occupations with the highest fatal work injuries in 2013.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a job, clearly specify the industry or task if the "general laborer" performs a specific function within a larger context.

Common error

Don't use "general laborer" when a more specific job title is appropriate. If the person is specifically working as a carpenter's assistant, use that title instead for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "General laborer" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a job title or to describe someone's occupation. Ludwig indicates its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "General laborer" is a grammatically sound and usable term to describe an individual who performs various manual tasks, often without specialized skills. Ludwig confirms its correctness and provides examples of its usage in diverse contexts. While not exceedingly frequent, the term appears across news media, academic writing, and scientific publications. When using "General laborer", ensure the context is clear. Alternative terms like "unskilled worker" or "manual worker" may be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Unskilled worker

Focuses on the lack of specialized skills required.

Manual worker

Emphasizes the physical nature of the work.

Construction worker

Specifies a common industry where general laborers are employed.

Construction helper

Highlights the assisting role in construction sites.

Day laborer

Highlights the temporary or short-term nature of the employment.

Basic worker

Focuses on the simplicity of the performed tasks.

Entry-level worker

Indicates that the position requires little to no prior experience.

Blue-collar worker

References a worker who performs manual labor.

Utility worker

Emphasizes the variety of tasks undertaken.

General hand

Indicates a versatile worker capable of various tasks.

FAQs

How to use "General laborer" in a sentence?

You can use "General laborer" to describe someone who performs a variety of manual tasks. For example: "The company is hiring a "general laborer" to assist with site cleanup."

What can I say instead of "General laborer"?

You can use alternatives like "unskilled worker", "manual worker", or "entry-level worker" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "General laborer" or "Laborer"?

"Laborer" is a broader term. "General laborer" specifies someone who performs a variety of tasks, while a "Laborer" might have more specific duties.

What are the typical duties of a "General laborer"?

A "general laborer" typically performs tasks like cleaning, moving materials, and assisting skilled workers. Their duties are usually diverse and not highly specialized.