The Hays reports states that the NSW the market remains strong with the civil market expected to strengthen with significant state government investment in roads and rail including the Sydney Metro, Sydney Light Rail and the Parramatta Light Rail.
In the ACT, the $700 million light rail project and a strong civil market with a number of subdivisions, land releases and road duplications is fuelling vacancy activity.
Victoria remains busy with subdivisions in Melbourne’s Northwest and Southeast and civil works include rail upgrades and the Melbourne Metro project. Demand for Roads, Highways and Rail Engineers is putting upward pressure on salaries, causing local movement and attracting interstate candidates.
However in Queensland, Brisbane is experiencing slow and steady growth. The $3 billion Queens Wharf Development, highway upgrades including Kingsford Smith Drive, and many small lot subdivisions are driving the market. Many of Brisbane’s major projects are halfway through their lifecycle and therefore future activity is uncertain.
Activity on the Gold Coast is driven by the 2018 Commonwealth Games and includes the construction and restoration of both new and old sporting venues. Along with the sport and community facilities, residential developments for townhouses and apartments to accommodate athletes and sporting officials are also boosting the engineering market.
Northern Queensland’s civil construction market has improved due to investment in mining infrastructure, roads and bulk earthworks.
In Western Australia, civil construction is buoyant especially in Perth due to highway extensions and the airport link.
In Adelaide, significant infrastructure spend and major projects including road upgrades will boost the civil market over the next few years.
In the Northern Territory, infrastructure investment is driving the market.
In Tasmania civil investment in roads infrastructure and major construction projects and are creating vacancy activity.
According to Hays, the following roles are in demand:
- Civil Engineers with infrastructure experience are in growing demand in response to the increase in projects moving into the design phase.
- Structural Engineers particularly those with strong experience with clients.
- A major area of demand is for candidates with expertise in specialist software packages. 12D Design Drafters are the most sought after. As the demand for 3D modelling increases, there is also a shortage of suitable candidates with Revit and Civil 3D as well as 12D. These skills are in demand for residential and industrial developments and subdivisions in particular and there is a clear need for modelling skills nationally.
- Hydraulic Engineers at the mid-level within building services are also in demand.
- Building Services and Structural Engineers with business development skills.
- Skilled Engineers from a consulting background who can work autonomously.
