Building and related trades workers construct, maintain and repair buildings; erect and repair foundations, walls and structures of brick, stone and similar materials; shape and finish stone for building and other purposes. Competent performance in most occupations in this sub-major group requires skills at the second ISCO skill level.

The work is carried out by hand and by hand-powered and other tools which are used to reduce the amount of physical effort and time required for specific tasks, as well as to improve the quality of the products. The tasks call for an understanding of the work organization, the materials and tools used, and the nature and purpose of the final product.

Tasks performed by workers in this sub-major group usually include: constructing, maintaining and repairing buildings and other structures, using traditional and/or modern building techniques; constructing and repairing foundations, walls and structures of brick, stone and similar materials; breaking quarried stone into slabs or blocks; cutting, shaping and finishing stone for building, ornamental, monumental and other purposes; erecting reinforced concrete frameworks and structures as well as finishing and repairing cement surfaces; cutting, shaping, assembling and maintaining wooden structures and fittings; performing miscellaneous construction and building maintenance tasks. Supervision of other workers may be included.