The Australian Construction Industry: A Promising Future

Construction is the third largest industry in Australia for the number of people it employs and its share in the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the country. 

In 2018, nearly 1.2 million people were employed in construction (it’s almost 9.5% of all jobs in Australia). A further 100,000 jobs are projected to be added by 2022. 

The industry contributes $134.2 billion to Australia’s economy and has a share of 8% in the total GDP of the country. Only healthcare and retail outperform construction in these numbers. 

When we talk about salary, the average for a construction worker is $27.78 per hour. That’s the average. For Construction Managers, Estimating Managers, Site managers, Strategic Sourcing Manager, or General Managers, the annual income can reach $100,000 – $280,000 a year .  

In Demand Roles

According to research, below are Australia’s most in-demand construction positions for 2018: 

  • Property and Construction Lawyers, 
  • Residential Property Managers, 
  • Project Managers, 
  • Site Managers, 
  • Contract Administrators, 
  • Project Lead Architects, 
  • Facilities Managers and Coordinators, 
  • Civil Design Engineers. 
In Demand Skills

Aside from occupational knowledge, the industry calls for mastery of other skills as well. Here is the list of the top generic skills in demand: 

  • Communication skills, 
  • Planning, 
  • Detail oriented, 
  • Building effective relationships, 
  • Microsoft Office. 

In recent years, women are putting on a hardhat and entering this male-dominated industry. A 2017-18 report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that only 12% of the construction workforce is female. However, the numbers are foreseen to increase as stereotypical expectations are being fought, we see more women on the worksites and taking on leadership duties. 

Graduates fresh out of school who seek a career path, established workers who want to upgrade their skills, business owners, investors, and start-ups – all of them are welcome to be part of this growing industry. 

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