Just like all industry, the engineering and construction sector upwards and downward trends with regards to job availability. For example, looking back to the beginning of 2018 there was a high demand for architects, builders, engineers and other construction professionals, with February of that year seeing the highest number of people employed in the construction industry on record. This was predominantly due to the increase in residential construction, with dwelling commencement levels running at approximately 235,000 per year, along with government investments in new road infrastructure.
And last year civil engineers seemed to be in high demand, with vacancies regularly advertised between 1,900 and 2,350 per month, according to Engineering Australia.
Now Bayside Group Personnel are looking into 2020 to see which jobs will likely be in the highest demand across the engineering and construction industry.
A cooling period for residential construction
After a strong couple of years, construction employment levels had eased back to 1.176 million as of August 2019, and by June 2020 the Australian Construction Industry Forum predicts this to drop back to 1.170 million – a number that, while lowered, is still elevated above historic levels.
Over recent months, demand for construction managers, architects, civil engineers and interior designers have fallen, leaving AEC professionals questioning which strategies they will employ to maximise their success moving into 2020.
Rail leads the way
The significant public investment and government funding that has been channelled into major rail projects will likely see professionals with technical rail experiences in high demand. This will include rail architects, rail design engineers and rail construction professionals.
A push for civil
The growth in job opportunities for qualified civil engineers who have experience with major infrastructure projects and institutional buildings, such as schools and hospitals, is expected to continue its growth from 2019. This is in part in response to the rollout of projects across the country. Senior accredited civil engineers are required as well to oversee project design and sign off.
A bright future for electrical
Electrical engineering is another area that shows continued demand moving into the new year. Electrical engineering is a broad field which includes power engineering, instrumentation engineering, and electronic engineering, among others. The varied range of possible career paths within electrical engineering means that there will likely be a plethora of positions available to the right candidates.
As well as the traditional electrical engineers, those also working in the alternative energy sector will likely notice an increase in job vacancies, as the increasing pressure being placed on government’s and major corporations to establish sustainable energy solutions continues. For example, the demand for solar energy technology has increased dramatically, resulting in decreased panel cost. This is creating a feedback loop that is further pushing up demand, forming little doubt that alternative energy is a growing area that requires skilled workers.
If you’re searching for a job within the engineering or construction industry, contact us today and speak with one of our specialist consultants.
