47 per cent of employers intend to increase permanent staff levels in the 2019/20 financial year, according to new findings by Hays.
This vacancy activity will be focused in Australia’s booming civil infrastructure market thanks to a growing population and large-scale, long-term publicly funded infrastructure projects.
While residential construction has declined, and the industry is shifting from high-rise residential to infrastructure and commercial, an ongoing skill shortage, population growth and low unemployment will ensure we still see some residential building activity and therefore jobs.
Thus, for the second half of 2019, Hays expects that construction vacancy activity will remain positive, although the hotspots of skills in demand do vary by location.
Below is a breakdown of skills in demand across the country:
Victoria
Victoria’s construction market remains active.
Infrastructure is driving vacancy activity with projects such as the Melbourne Metro Rail requiring staff, while the commercial construction sector has picked up.
As a result, Hays is seeing that construction professionals at all levels are in demand, from high-level Design Engineers to experienced Delivery Engineers on roads, tunnels, bridges and rail.
Construction Engineers with rail and road experience are also required given current project activity.
Hays indicates that experienced Contract Administrators, Design Managers and Site Managers in civil infrastructure and the commercial market are also sought.
The construction building industry is very healthy, particularly in education and health. All construction skills are in demand, from Site Forepersons to Project Engineers and Project Managers.
Queensland
For civil construction, candidates with Transport and Main Roads (TMR) experience are in growing demand in Queensland as companies act to fulfil their tender requirements.
In particular demand are Project Managers with 10 years of experience, Site Engineers with at least two years of experience and Project Engineers with at least five years of experience on TMR projects.
Rail is another active area for Queensland. South East Queensland has lost some civil professionals to Sydney’s Metro project, but with three Queensland-based rail projects planned (Inland Rail, Cross River Rail and Brisbane Metro) the supply of experienced candidates fails to meet demand.
South East Queensland’s solid project pipeline is fuelling high demand for Contract Administrators too.
In the commercial market, Site Managers with experience working on $20m+ projects and Project Managers and Directors who have worked on $100m+ projects are in short supply.
Perth
In Western Australia, construction (and engineering) skill shortages will continue to intensify in response to the Metronet and major mining projects.
Within civil construction, demand is high for candidates with a rail background who can work on the Metronet project.
Project Engineers with solid experience are highly sought after but are being retained by tier 1 and 2 employers.
Civil construction Project Managers and Supervisors are also required, with the supply of strong candidates failing to meet demand.
Contract Administrators and Estimators within electrical, mechanical services and commercial construction will remain in demand. Civil Engineers at the intermediate level are in short supply as well.
Northern Territory
Darwin’s construction market is experiencing a downturn with several key projects coming to an end.
Just as what was seen in the early half of 2019, it is likely that the Northern Territory will continue to face a general shortage of skilled construction candidates for local and remote roles, including Project Managers and Site Managers for defence lead roles.
Adelaide
Adelaide’s civil construction market is expected to remain strong this half of the year and into 2020, with several large-scale projects creating demand for Project Managers, Site Managers and Civil Estimators.
Civil Contract Administrators are needed too, but there is a shortage of available and strong candidates who want to remain in the role long-term.
Several government funded infrastructure projects are or will soon enter the delivery phase, which will impact the market.
Meanwhile, commercial construction has improved in South Australia with high confidence fuelling demand for Project Managers, Contract Administrators and Estimators with proven commercial experience. Adding to demand is the high number of Commercial Estimators who relocated interstate several years ago and have not returned.
New South Wales
Skilled Supervisors, Project Engineers and Estimators with experience in tunnelling, roads and rail projects are expected to remain in demand in Sydney.
There is a general shortage of candidates with the required tenure to satisfy demand.
Sales Estimators who can price or write tenders for project homes are required.
A shortage of Production Estimators who can accurately estimate the required materials and labour is also evident.
Contract Administrators, Project Engineers and Site Managers with experience in large health, institutional and commercial projects are sought.
Canberra
Within Canberra, continuing staffing shortages are evident.
In greatest demand are Project Managers with large-scale commercial experience and Site Managers, Project Engineers and Contract Administrators for health, education and infrastructure projects.
Tasmania
In Tasmania, strong economic growth coupled with heightened investment in infrastructure, renewables and accommodation developments ensures ongoing high demand, particularly for Project Managers and Contract Administrators.