A high demand for intermediate civil engineers, traffic engineers and engineers skilled in 12D software are among the major employment trends for the first half of 2018, according to recruitment giant Hays.
In its January to June 2018 skills report, Hays says although there's a high demand for talented engineering professionals, a “talent mismatch” exists between the skills jobseekers possess and the skills employers are looking for.
Take a knowledge of 12D software, for example. "As 12D is not part of university curriculums, candidates need to gain this knowledge independently if they are to remain competitive in the job market. As a result, there is a massive shortage of candidates with skills in this software," Hays says.
The report recommends that anyone who wants to focus on civil engineering, water engineering or land development gain expertise in this package.
Hays also expects to see the following trends in the first half of 2018:
Structural engineers with at least seven or eight years of experience will be in high demand. There is a gap at the mid to senior level of the market in many locations, particularly South Australia since many graduates either changed career direction or moved interstate during the downturn a few years ago; the challenge now is to attract them back when salaries are lower compared to the eastern seaboard. This is therefore leading to demand for candidates who can hit the ground running and potentially lead a team.
Civil drafters are needed too. Similarly to structural engineers, civil drafters are in demand as consultancies look for people with a number of years of experience who have, preferably, worked with well-recognised consultancies. Major projects in the civil infrastructure space will add to the skill shortage.
Intermediate civil engineers will be another area of demand for urban developments and subdivisions, however there is a shortage of intermediate level candidates. Employers are often top-heavy and have been recruiting senior partners as they lack the necessary time to train up candidates. There is also a huge influx of graduate engineers looking for work, creating a gap at the intermediate level.
Civil design engineers will be in demand in the first half of 2018 for both permanent and temporary roles. Growth in the residential land development and subdivision market in many locations will fuel this need. Infrastructure projects and major road developments will also create demand for civil infrastructure designers/engineers.
12D designers for land development and sub-division projects will be in demand. Most universities are teaching students Autodesk Civil3D, however in the private sector 12D is still standard. As it is a challenging and technical program to learn, there is a shortage of candidates with practical experience using it. However, employers want people with relevant experience to work on the high number of subdivision projects that are passing approval in the state. In addition, a lot of designers are generalists rather than specialists in the subdivision space.
Revit drafters will be needed for temporary assignments, many of which will be remote access roles and will require candidates with experience using updated versions of Revit.
Electrical engineers will see growing demand for their skills from mining, manufacturing and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), particularly in New South Wales due to the resurgence in the state’s mining sector.
Traffic modellers will be sought to work on infrastructure upgrades and transport projects. The issue is that there are many systems in use across the industry, including VISSIM, VISUM, SIDRA and EMME. Skills on one program are not necessarily transferable and employers therefore want a jobseeker who possesses relevant software experience rather than someone they would be required to teach.
Traffic engineers will also be needed this half given the rise in major civil infrastructure projects. Candidates must be well versed with Australian traffic standards and have experience undertaking safety audits, traffic management and public transport planning. An increasing number of projects has seen demand outweigh supply.
Transport planners will also be needed in the first half of 2018 in response to infrastructure upgrades and transport projects.
Water engineers will be sought in response to both private and public sector work. However, there is a shortage of suitable candidates.
Fire design engineers are expected to see demand for their skills. Fire engineers who specialise in installation are in short supply and there is no specific fire engineering degree in Australia.
Hydraulic drafters will be sought too. Drafters typically specialise in electrical or mechanical over hydraulic, and those few who do often look for roles in the design side.
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