How do I get a job in construction?

If you don’t have any prior experience, you can apply for entry-level jobs to get your foot in the door, such as an apprenticeship or as a trade’s assistant. If you want to get into construction management, you’ll likely need qualifications.

How do I upskill in 2022?

You can boost your qualifications with online training, or by getting RPL certification. Having qualifications can make you more valuable to employers, increase your earning potential, keep your resume relevant and create greater opportunities for career growth.

How can RPL help my career in 2022?

RPL can assist with helping you to achieve a formal qualification in 2022. It allows you to avoid repeat training for skills you’ve already developed in the workforce, increases career prospects and enables you to continue working and earning an income whilst getting your qualification.

What type of skills do I need in the construction industry?

If you’re just starting out and don’t have any job-specific skills or qualifications, you can still get a job in the construction industry. General skills looked for by employers include adaptability, communication skills, time management, problem solving, organisation, resilience and a willingness to learn.

Construction sectors with the most job growth in 2022

In fact, Australia’s construction industry in Australia is expected to grow by 10.6% to reach AUD 163,797 million in 2022 which is set to create around 1200,700 jobs over the next five years.

The Australian Industry and Skills Committee has identified the top growth areas of the construction industry.

Building Installation Services

This sector involves construction work such as plumbing and drainage installation and repair, air conditioning and heating installation and fire and security alarm testing. This sector currently employs over 272,000 people and is expected to grow to 308,000 by 2024.

The top 3 occupations for this sector are electrician, plumbers, and air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics.

General Construction and Demolition

This sector includes Residential Building and Non-residential Building Construction as well as Land Development and Site Preparation, renovations, additions or alterations to existing buildings and accompanying site preparation or development.

The general construction and demolition sector employed just over 300,000 people at the end of 2021 and this is expected to rise by over 80,000 in the next 3 years.

The top occupations for this industry are:

Construction managers
Carpenters and joiners
Architectural, building and surveying technicians
Building and plumbing labourers
And to a lesser extent, plasters, bricklayers and stonemasons

Specialist Construction Services

This sector includes construction crane operations, waterproofing of buildings, dogging, post-tensioning, rigging, scaffolding, and swimming pool or spa building. Landscape Construction services and the Hire of Construction Machinery are also classified as part of this sector.

The specialist construction sector is mostly made up of smaller businesses. About 123,000 worked in this sector last year, and this is expected to rise by over 15,000 by 2025.

How will the skills shortage affect job growth?

The skills shortage is already starting to have an impact on the construction industry. In some areas, projects are being delayed or cancelled because there aren’t enough qualified workers to complete them. This is only going to become more of a problem as the industry continues to grow.

One way to address the skills shortage is by increasing the number of people who are certified with RPL certification. RPL stands for Recognition of Prior Learning. It’s a process that allows people to get qualifications based on their previous work experience and knowledge, rather than having to complete a full course of study.

The other way to address the skills shortage is by bringing in workers from overseas. This is already happening to some extent, but it’s likely that we’ll see more of it in the future.

What does this mean for job seekers?

If you’re interested in working in the construction industry, now is a great time to start looking for work. There are plenty of opportunities out there, and the industry is only going to continue to grow.

RPL certification can help you recognise your experience in the construction industry, even if you don’t have formal qualifications. If you’re interested in advancing your career in the construction industry, it’s definitely worth considering.

Whether you’re looking for in an entry-level job or in construction management, may be something for you.