There’s been a swell in demand for building and construction jobs in Queensland and across Australia, according to a new report. This includes temporary interstate assignments.
Australia’s unemployment rate may be elevated, but there’s good news for tradies looking for work.
Employment levels in the construction industry are now the highest they’ve been in Australia’s history. The demand for jobs within the building sector has soared to record heights, especially for site managers, contracts administrators, forepersons and supervisors – according to a new report by Hays.
The recruitment company puts the swell in demand down to an active market across most states and territories. NSW is leading the way, with companies even willing to hire candidates without having projects to start them on.
There’s strong demand in Brisbane too, thanks to a thriving multi-residential market and growing commercial and defence projects. And Brisbane is not alone in the Sunshine State. Construction companies across Queensland are looking for contract administrators, estimators and supervisors in particular. There are also a growing number of defence related projects to choose from, for site managers with a defence background.
On a national scale, more than 42 000 new building and engineering jobs have entered the Australian market over the three months to February this year – indicating a surge of 110 400 jobs over the past three years. Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the ACT are also providing more opportunities for construction workers. Temporary assignments are particularly common within construction, with employers looking interstate to fill skill shortages.
Bricklayers, labourers and shopfitters should try their luck in Queensland, whereas NSW has plenty of work for roofers, carpenters and excavators. There’s high demand for pipe layers, excavator operators and grader operators in South Australia.
Western Australia is a good choice for duct installers, plumbers, electrical project managers and post tension technicians. Carpenters and labourers are in short supply in the ACT, while the Northern Territory is on the hunt for refrigeration technicians, plumbers and labourers.
It seems this is a particularly good time to be working in construction, especially if you’re willing to travel for work.