Construction jobs in SA that need to be filled
Construction jobs in South Africa include various fields of employment. From a tiler and scaffolder jobs to bricklayer jobs, Job Mail takes a closer look at the different options available.
Being a Concreter
You’ll need to be highly accurate if a job as a concreter is something you are interested in. You role will be working with quick drying material and ensuring accuracy across all projects. Aside from this, you’ll find yourself wither constructing or repairing a range of concrete structures and surfaces, from floors, bridges, walls and many more.
You may be called in to touch up on older work, or start fresh and you’ll need to be precise, quick thinking and have a thorough understanding of the material and the various elements involved.
You can either become a concreter by working with your employer through courses, skills training or programmes, or you can complete a Learnership in Construction, Carpentry, at Level 3, for which you’ll need grade 10 or a NFQ Level 2.
Bricklayer Jobs
Bricklayer jobs involve the laying of stone blocks and of course bricks, to build, repair or maintain various structures. As a brick layer, you’ll find yourself laying stones, and other materials in a host of situations, from commercial, residential and government based jobs.
You’ll find yourself laying pavements, footpaths as well as helping with buildings and other structures, and sometimes even help build decorative installations, from patios to garden elements.
You’ll need to be skilled and precise and be accurate with your work. To become a bricklayer, you’ll need to get 40% in maths in grade 9, then choose between a learnership, internship or apprenticeship,with a qualified artisan, and complete a trade test to complete your studies.
Working as a Plasterer
Builder jobs also include working as a plasterer. As a plasterer, your role and tasks would be to prep and apply a range of cement, plaster, and various materials to both the exterior and interior structure of a range of buildings and sites. Along with this, your other tasks would include measuring, installing and ensuring that all ornamental and decorative plaster pieces are constructed and carefully created.
You would also be in charge of applying a range of protective layers to older buildings to ensure that they are in the best condition. For this, you would need to be highly accurate, have a lot of patience and be willing to work in a range of jobs and sites.
To become a plasterer, as with a few trades, there is a series of ways to go about becoming a qualified artisan, and pick up the trade. You’ll need to have 40% in maths in grade 9 to start and will have the opportunity to choose a learnership, apprenticeship or internship with an artisan who is qualified, to further one aspect of your studies. You would also be required to pass the national trade test, to become a qualified artisan.
That said, if you have been working in construction jobs and plastering for many years, you can apply for recognition of prior learning, which is something that allows you to skip the various apprenticeships, and take on the trade tests, depending on your level of experience.
Builder’s Worker
If you have an interest in builder jobs, working as a builder’s worker might be the right choice for you. You’ll have a range of tasks from routine maintenance to repairs on various buildings and structures.
You’ll be tasked with stacking, unloading and ensuring all materials are on site. You’ll also be responsible for ensuring equipment is where it needs to be, as well as digging up trenches and breaking up pavement, and rock. You’ll also have the chance to do work as a bricklayer or perform tasks associated with scaffolder jobs.
Digging trenches using hand tools or jackhammers to break up rock and concrete. There are no formal qualifications needed for this job but you can choose to complete various recognised qualifications.
Building Associate
As a building associate, you’ll be in charge of supervising various construction sites and coordinating a range of aspects of the project. You’ll find yourself going over specifications, organising people in working in various aspects of a construction project, materials and other elements of the project.
You’ll also be in charge of quality and inspecting the various smaller jobs.
These types of builder jobs will also see you being in charge of safety and health, and would work with other tradesmen to ensure compliance and an all-round safe project.
You can choose to specialise in various processes, from road and rail, building, pipelaying and many more. You will need a grade 11 as well as work experience, and can then do one through a learnership in Supervison of Construction.
Working in Scaffolder Jobs
All scaffolder jobs have an element of both skill and height, you’ll need to erect and bring down various scaffolding, which is used across building sites for a range of projects.
Your job would be to help erect the scaffolding, framework, supports and other tools used. You may often be required to scale and climb the scaffolding, to add on extra sections or to help carry various supplies.
You’ll find yourself working with many different tradesmen, from a tiler to a bricklayer and a plasterer on different projects.
You can become a scaffolder with on-the-job training, or through training courses. You can become registered with the Institute for Work at Height (IWH) Professional Body as a competent scaffolder, which can help boost your job prospects.
Roof Tiler
The different types of construction jobs also include the jobs of tilers. If the construction industry, coupled with heights is something you love, then a career as a roof tiler is just for you.
As a roof tiler, you would be responsible for covering various roofs with sheets, tiles and materials to make sure it is waterproof and airtight. This field also includes the skills required in scaffolder jobs as you, in some cases, might be required to set up scaffolding.
Your other tasks include the setup of waterproof layers and materials as well as cutting and measuring various elements to fit the roofing structure. Depending on the project, tilers in roofing also work closely with a range of other artisans and tradesmen, including the plasterer and bricklayer, to name but a couple of examples.
There are two ways to become a roof tiler, you can either have a NFQ Level 2, or grade 10 in order to be eligible for a Learnership in Construction, Carpentry, at Level 3.
Another way is to train under your employer’s guidance and complete various training, short courses or programmes.
Wall and Floor Tiler
You can choose to take up an opportunity in wall and floor tiling, where you would lay a range of materials, from clay, ceramic, marble and glass tiles across many surfaces.
As a wall and floor tiler, your tasks would include prepping the surfaces and putting together and setting the various other materials, to the project specifications. This could be for either a wall or floor finish, depending on the job and the requirements.
Other skills required for this job include precision, accuracy and patience, as well as being able to follow detailed, and sometimes complicated, pattern structures, along with the other requirements of the job.
To become a wall and floor tiler, you’ll need to be a qualified artisan and have passed an accredited trade test. You’ll need to have 40% in maths in grade 9 to gain entry into the various options. You can do an apprenticeship, learnership or internship with a qualified artisan, in most cases, and then complete a trade test.
However, if you have been a wall and tiler for many years, you can apply for recognition of prior learning, in cases where you have been doing the job for a minimum number of years.
Working as a Painter
Another prospect when it comes to construction jobs in South Africa includes becoming a painter. As a painter you would prepare and then paint a range of surfaces, from walls, buildings and other inside elements.
You would have the opportunity to work across both commercial and residential jobs and sites, working on numerous projects.
Depending on the job, and your training and skill level, you may be required to meet with the project managers, or clients, and discuss the project. You’ll be involved with deciding what paint is suitable for the jobs and surface and will then prepare a quote accordingly.
Once the project has the go ahead, you’ll be required to prep, prime and start on the job and ensure that a high level of quality is ensured.
Interested in becoming a painter? You’ll need to be interested in the construction industry, not be afraid of heights, as your job may take you to many different working environments, as well as being reliable, patient and accurate with your work.
You could choose to do this either part-time or fulltime, depending on your expertise, training and specialisation level and studying possibilities. As for the training and specialisation involved, you would have the opportunity to study and learn different and specialised techniques and methods – this could allow you to broaden your skillset and work on an even more varied range of projects.
So how to get involved? You can do this through an apprenticeship, under a trained artisan, while training at a range of TVET colleges, and then take a trade test.
You could also do a series of learnerships, and trade tests, or an artisan internship and a trade test to become a qualified painter.
Promotions and Further Training
Many of the construction and builder jobs have promotion and further training prospects, which means you can grow and develop within the industry. So which jobs can you can find yourself that have growth options? These include a building associate, where you can supervise and take on more responsibility across the spectrum, as well as painting and bricklayer jobs, where you can train further and gain more skills and qualifications to help you grow in your career.
With all of the careers, the more specialised and training and skills you have, the more opportunities for varied projects.
Already qualified and looking for construction jobs that fuel your passion? Register your CV on www.JobMail.co.za and start applying for construction and builder jobs now. Don’t see anything you like right now? Create a job alert for construction vacancies and get informed of the latest job ads on Job Mail.

