Check if your civil engineering or construction profession is in demand in Australia

civil engineer, data, employment, jobs, recruitment, skilled migrants, surveyors, vacancies,

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Thanks to a new tool, you can now check if your civil engineering, construction, or surveying profession is in demand in Australia.

Thanks to a new tool developed by Jobs and Skills Australia you can now explore Australia’s combined labour market data at the regional state and national levels, across occupations, skills, and industries.

The Jobs and Skills Atlas ‘Atlas’ beta tool enables users – for the first time – to explore the most common occupations at regional, state, and national levels, as classified by the 4-digit (occupation unit-group level) of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).

It shows employment, recent job vacancies, the job vacancy rate, and some information about demand for these occupations and can be used to compare regions or regions with states or national data.

We have used this brand-new tool to collate some important information that will allow you to check if your civil engineering or construction profession is in demand in Australia.

Australia’s current employment market

Australia has a stable and developed economy characterized by low inflation, a strong banking sector, and prudent fiscal policies. The country had experienced decades of uninterrupted economic growth, making it one of the most prosperous nations in the world.

Engineering job vacancies are at a ten-year high. In 2021, the number of engineering jobs advertised increased by 50% in Australia. The situation for Surveyors is no different. 

The surging demand for engineers stems from several factors, including unparalleled investments in public infrastructure initiatives, the ongoing maintenance of critical infrastructure components like roads, bridges, and ports, as well as the growing need for sustainable solutions in domains like waste management and water supply.

According to Engineers Australia, Australia trains the second lowest proportion of engineers in the OECD, at 8% (proportion of engineering graduates to all graduates). As per the most recent findings from Infrastructure Australia, the biggest challenge confronting construction companies in Australia in the coming years will be the shortage of engineering and construction workforce.

Construction Employment – Australia

Demand for Construction Managers in Australia

Construction Managers plan, organise, direct, control and coordinate the construction of civil engineering projects, buildings and dwellings, and the physical and human resources involved in building and construction. Tasks include:

  • interpreting architectural drawings and specifications
  • coordinating labour resources, and procurement and delivery of materials, plant and equipment
  • consulting with Architects, Engineering Professionals and other professionals, and Technical and Trades Workers
  • negotiating with building owners, property developers and subcontractors involved in the construction process to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget
  • preparing tenders and contract bids
  • operating and implementing coordinated work programs for sites
  • ensuring adherence to building legislation and standards of performance, quality, cost and safety
  • arranging submission of plans to local authorities
  • building under contract, or subcontracting specialised building services
  • overseeing the standard and progress of subcontractors’ work
  • arranging building inspections by local authorities

Below is an overview of the past, current and future demand for Construction Managers in Australia:

If you are a Construction Project Manager and would like to be part of the infrastructure boom in Australia or New Zealand, register your CV here or search our jobs.

Demand for Civil Engineers in Australia

Civil Engineering Professionals design, plan, organise and oversee the construction of civil engineering projects such as dams, bridges, pipelines, gas and water supply schemes, sewerage systems, roads, airports and other structures; analyse the likely behaviour of soil and rock when placed under pressure by proposed structures and design structural foundations; analyse the statical properties of all types of structures and test the behaviour and durability of materials used in their construction; plan and develop transportation systems; and estimate and monitor the construction costs of projects.

Tasks Include:

  • determining construction methods, materials and quality standards, and drafting and interpreting specifications, drawings, plans, construction methods and procedures
  • organising and directing site labour and the delivery of construction materials, plant and equipment, and establishing detailed programs for the coordination of site activities
  • obtaining soil and rock samples at different depths across sites and testing samples to determine strength, compressibility and other factors that affect the behaviour of soil and rock when a structure is imposed and determining the safe loading for the soil
  • studying architectural and engineering drawings and specifications to estimate total costs, and preparing detailed cost plans and estimates as tools to assist in budgetary control
  • monitoring changes to designs, assessing effects on cost, and measuring, valuing and negotiating variations to designs
  • analysing structural systems for both static and dynamic loads
  • designing structures to ensure they do not collapse, bend, twist or vibrate in undesirable ways
    assessing present and future travel flow patterns taking into account population increase and needs change
  • designing the physical aspects of transportation systems such as highways, railroads, urban transit, air transportation, logistical supply systems and their terminals

Occupation codes (ANZASCO):
233211 Civil Engineer
233212 Geotechnical Engineer
233213 Quantity Surveyor
233214 Structural Engineer
233215 Transport Engineer

Below is an overview of the past, current and future demand for Civil Engineering Professionals across all of Australia.

New South Wales – Civil Engineering Professionals demand


Victoria – Civil Engineering Professionals Demand

Queensland – Civil Engineering Professionals Demand

Tasmania – Civil Engineering Professionals Demand

South Australia – Civil Engineering Professionals Demand

Demand for Surveyors and Spatial Scientists in Australia

Surveyors and Spatial Scientists plan, direct and conduct survey work to determine and delineate boundaries and features of tracts of land, marine floors and underground works, prepare and revise maps, charts and other geographic products, and analyse, present and maintain geographical information about locations in space and time. Tasks include:

  • determining the position of points of interest on the earth’s surface including marine floors, and preparing the final product data in digital form
  • supervising the preparation of plans, maps, charts and drawings to give pictorial representations and managing spatial information systems
  • undertaking research and development of surveying and photogrammetric measurement systems, cadastral systems and land information systems
  • planning and designing land subdivision projects and negotiating details with local governments and other authorities
  • advising Architects, Engineering Professionals, environmental and other scientists or other relevant professionals on the technical requirements of surveying, mapping and spatial information systems
  • compiling and evaluating data, interpreting codes of practice, and writing reports concerning survey measurement, land use and tenure
  • preparing site plans and survey reports required for conveyancing and land ownership matters
  • evaluating, compiling and maintaining spatial information using a range of digital and graphical source materials, including aerial photographs, satellite imagery, survey documents, existing maps and records, historical data, reports and statistics
  • analysing and interpreting data to design maps, graphs, plans, drawings and three-dimensional models using geographic information and related systems
  • developing and trialling new applications for use in geographic information systems
  • supervising and coordinating the work of Surveying or Spatial Science Technicians in the production and reproduction of geographic products

Surveyors are currently in exceptionally high demand in Australia, primarily due to the unprecedented investment in major infrastructure projects.

A recent report by BIS Oxford Economics, commissioned by Consulting Surveyors National, titled “Determining the Future Demand, Supply, and Skills Gap for Surveying and Geospatial Professionals: 2022-2032,” sheds light on the imminent skills shortage in the surveying and geospatial field.

It predicts a shortage of nearly 1,400 professionals nationwide by 2024, with this figure expected to surpass 2,000 by 2029. In essence, this translates to an annual requirement of approximately 1,500 additional surveyors and geospatial professionals to meet the country’s demand.

Australia’s five-year pipeline of major public infrastructure projects has reached a staggering value of $237 billion, marking a $15 billion increase over the past year and equating to a remarkable growth rate of 6.7%. Notably, transportation projects account for 63% of this expenditure, with a significant focus in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, where 84% of the spending is concentrated.

Moreover, ample opportunities for surveyors exist in both government agencies and private surveying firms. Salary levels for surveyors vary depending on experience and location, but the average annual salary hovers around $100,000 AUD.

Summary

In Australia, we find ourselves in a candidate-centric job market, which is excellent news for Civil Engineers, Construction Professionals and Surveyors seeking career advancement, contemplating a change in location, aiming for a salary increase, or aspiring to improve their working conditions.

If you are looking for a new opportunity, visit our Vacancies page where you can apply with your CV.

Source: © Commonwealth of Australia, Jobs and Skills Australia

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