4 Answers

From Wikipedia

What is a roustabout?

A roustabout is a labourer typically performing temporary, unskilled work. The term has traditionally been used to refer to traveling-circus workers, natural gas, or oil rig workers.

In the southern United States, mid to late 19th century, roustabout was used to refer to unskilled labour working on or loading and unloading steamboats. In reference to the Mississippi River fire and subsequent sinking of the Steamer Josie Harry:

NY Times, Dec 15, 1883, "A Steam-Boat Burned": "...The fireman and greaser and two roustabouts jumped into the river..."

In Australia they are called Rouseabouts. Same applies, unskilled workers mainly on sheep and cattle stations. (ranches to the uninformed)

A temporary, unskilled laborer is a roustabout.  They can be circus workers, working on gas lines or oil rigs, ...............oops, someone else looked at wikipedia!!!