How to Get Bricklayer and General Laborer Jobs Abroad: Certifications, Demand, and Realistic Pay

Last verified: July 2026

Bricklaying and general labor sit at two different points on the skills ladder. But they’re often searched together, since general labor is the common entry point into construction work abroad, with bricklaying as a next step for anyone willing to formalize their skill. This guide covers both honestly: what each role actually requires, where demand is strongest, and what pay really looks like.

General Labor: The Real Entry Point

General labor roles such as

site cleanup
material handling
assisting skilled tradespeople
basic groundwork,

…do get sponsored abroad, and they’re often the most accessible starting point for workers without a formal trade certification yet. But it’s worth being honest about the tradeoffs:

Pay is the lowest tier of construction work in every country covered in this series. And progression to skilled-trade pay usually requires formal certification along the way, not just years of experience alone.
Sponsorship is more selective for general labor than for skilled trades, since some countries’ shortage lists prioritize specific trade qualifications over general labor. Always check your target country’s current shortage occupation status for general labor specifically before assuming it’s an easy route.
It’s a genuine stepping stone, not a dead end. Many experienced tradespeople abroad started in general labor roles while working toward a formal qualification on the side, this is a common path.

Country Notes for General Labor

The UK:

General labor requires the entry-level Green CSCS card, which needs only a Level 1 Health and Safety award plus a CITB test pass, no trade qualification required. This is the fastest legitimate way onto a UK construction site, though pay reflects the entry-level nature of the role, in the range of £14–£18/hour (£112–£144/day) before regional adjustment.

Canada:

General labor sponsorship exists through the same TFWP/LMIA mechanism covered in our Canada guide, but the roles that get prioritized for sponsorship increasingly favor recognized skilled trades. General laborers do get hired, but the long-term financial and immigration case for pursuing a formal trade certification, even after arrival, is strong.

Australia:

Regional construction and infrastructure projects show consistent demand for general labor, often tied to the same regional sponsorship incentives that apply to skilled trades. Worth asking specifically about regional roles, since demand and support tend to be stronger there than in metro areas.

The US:

General labor sponsorship is possible but competes directly with the country’s genuine labor-market test requirement, an employer has to demonstrate no available US worker for the role, which is a higher bar for general labor than it is for a specialized, harder-to-fill trade position.

Bricklaying: A Clear Step Up, With Real Certification Paths

Bricklaying is a strong trade to formalize if you’re already doing general labor or informal masonry work, because demand is consistent and the certification paths are well-established in every country covered here.

The UK:

Bricklaying sits on the Blue CSCS card track, requiring an NVQ Level 2 in bricklaying (or equivalent). If you have real experience but no UK-recognized qualification, the Experienced Worker (Red) card route (covered in our documents and certifications guide) lets you work while completing your NVQ through on-site assessment, rather than requiring you to qualify before you can start.

Canada:

Bricklaying/masonry is a Red Seal trade, meaning a recognized qualification carries across provinces rather than being tied to just one. If you’re pursuing sponsorship specifically as a bricklayer, having documented experience with both residential brick and commercial blockwork strengthens your application, since employers often hire for one specifically.

Australia and the US:

Both countries recognize bricklaying/masonry through their standard trade certification and apprenticeship systems, and demand tracks closely with the broader housing and commercial construction boom driving overall trade shortages in both markets.

Realistic Pay: Bricklayer vs. General Labor

The gap between the two roles is significant, and it’s worth seeing clearly before deciding which path to pursue first:

UK: General labor around £14–£18/hour; qualified bricklayers commonly earn £40,000–£60,000 annually, among the higher-paid trades in the UK specifically
Canada: General labor typically sits well below skilled trade wages; bricklayers with Red Seal qualification earn comparably to other core trades covered in our salary guide
Australia: Regional demand can push both categories higher than metro-area equivalents, particularly where labor shortages are most acute
US: Bricklayers/masons generally fall within the same $51,000–$63,000 median band as other core trades, with specialization (restoration masonry, commercial blockwork) pushing pay higher

How to Move From General Labor to Bricklayer, the Right Way

Step 1: If you’re starting from general labor, be upfront about your goal when applying, employers are often more willing to support a laborer working toward a trade qualification than you might expect, since it benefits them too.

Step 2: Document any existing masonry experience precisely, even informal work such as specific project types (residential brick, commercial blockwork, restoration) matter more than a vague “bricklaying experience” claim.

Step 3: Target the right certification path for your destination country like NVQ Level 2 and the Blue CSCS card for the UK, Red Seal for Canada — using the same country-specific approach covered throughout this series.

Step 4: If you’re already abroad on a general labor visa, ask specifically about on-site assessment routes, like the UK’s Experienced Worker card, rather than assuming you need to leave and requalify from scratch.

Conclusion

General labor is a legitimate and common entry point into construction work abroad, and it’s more accessible for sponsorship than people often assume but it comes with lower pay and, in some markets, a narrower sponsorship path than skilled trades. Bricklaying is a well-supported next step with clear certification routes in every country covered here, and many successful tradespeople abroad took exactly this path: start in general labor, document real experience, and formalize into a recognized trade once you’re established.