Employment prospectsThe Building Construction industry employs 49,500 South Australians, which is just over 6% of the State’s workforce.

Around 13,500 jobs are expected to open up over the next five years due to industry growth and replacement of people who will retire. Most of the people working in the Construction industry are tradespeople or labourers, and they mostly build, finish, repair or renovate homes, shops, offices and multi-storey commercial buildings.

Almost two thirds of employment is in the metropolitan area (northern, southern, eastern and western Adelaide), but there are still plenty of jobs in the regional areas.

Science and maths are important for training and work in this industry.

• Mostpeopleworkfull-timeinthisindustry.

• Themostcommonqualificationheldbyworkersisatradequalification(i.e.CertificateIII).

• Whilethenumberofwomenworkingintheindustryisgrowing,it’sstillmostlymenthatworkinthisindustry.

• Peopleworkinginthisindustryareofasimilarageprofiletotheaverage age of the SA workforce.

• Toworkinthisindustryyouneedtobephysicallyfit,havegoodeyesight,notbeafraidofheights,andbegoodwithmathematics,withspecialisationsinbuilding,contractadministration,estimating,sales,sitemanagement,tradecontracting.

• Qualifiedfull-timetradespeoplegenerallyearnbetween$600to$1,000perweek,oftenmorewhenthereisashortageofskilledtradespeople.

• Constructionmanagersandarchitectsearnbetween$1,000 and$1,300perweek.

Quick facts about this industry

Building construction, including furniture construction

If you are at schoolFor vocational education in SACE, ask your VET coordinator at school, and visit www.sace.sa.edu.au to check the VET recognition register. Check the following industries to see which qualifications can be recognised in the SACE. Some of the Certificate III qualifications may be available for Training Guarantee for SACE Students.

• Construction• Furnishing

If you are thinking about VET, vocational qualifications include:

• CertificateIinFurnishing

• Forthebuildingtrades,thereare28qualifications at the Certificate III level, including bricklaying, carpentry, joinery, concreting, demolition, dogging, painting, rigging, roof tiling, scaffolding, plastering, steel-fixing, wall and floor lining/tiling, waterproofing, formwork, paving, shopfitting, signage, stonemasonry, plumbing and gas fitting

• Forthefurnishingtrades,thereare21qualifications at the Certificate III level, including furniture making and finishing, glass and glazing, upholstery, kitchens and bathrooms, cabinet making, interior design, coopering, flooring technology and floor covering and finishing

• CertificateIVinInteriorDecorationand Furnishing Technology

• CertificateIVandDiplomainBuildingandConstruction, with specialisations in building, contract administration, estimating, sales, site management and trade contracting

Top job openingsCarpentersandJoiners

ConstructionManagers

Plumbers

Architectural,BuildingandSurveyingTechnicians

WallandFloorTilers

skills.sa.gov.au 1800 506 266 18

• CertificateIVandDiplomainPlumbingServices

• CertificateIVandDiplomainFurnishingTechnology

• CertificateIV,DiplomaandAdvancedDiplomainFurnitureDesignandTechnology

• CertificateIV,DiplomaandAdvancedDiplomainInteriorDesign

• CertificateIVandDiplomainBuildingandConstruction

• DiplomaofFireSystemsDesign

• DiplomaofHydraulicsServicesDesign.

Formoreinformationaboutthequalificationsandwheretogo,checkthejobguide:www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.auCheckwww.skills.sa.gov.autoseewhatcoursesareavailableunderSkillsforAll.

If you are thinking about university, degrees include:

• BachelorofArchitecturalStudies• BachelorofBuiltEnvironment• BachelorofConstruction

ManagementandEconomics• BachelorofDesignStudies• BachelorofDesignandTechnology

Education(DesignTechnology)• BachelorofEngineering(Architectural)• BachelorofInteriorArchitecture.

CheckthethreeSouthAustralianuniversitywebsitesandSouthAustralianTertiaryAdmissionsCentre(SATAC)listedatthefrontofthisguide.Formoreinformationaboutthequalificationsandwheretogo,checkthejobguide:www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au

Occupations in this industryBuilding constructionBuildingConstructionisresponsibleforthehomeswelivein,theschoolsandhospitalswerelyon,andthecommercialandindustrialbuildingsinwhichwework.

Thereareanumberofproductionprocessesinconstructingabuilding,including:

• architecturalandengineeringdesign

• sitepreparation

• layingconcretefoundations

• frameworkintimberandmetal

• wallandceilingfabricationandinsulation

• exteriorfinishinginbrick,timber,metalandglass

• installationofelectricalwiringandplumbingsystems

• interiorfinishing-painting,tiling,flooring,lighting,plumbing,airconditioning,doors,shelves,cabinetsandotherfixtures.

Occupations in this industry include:

ArchitectsBricklayersBuildingContractorsBuildingSiteManagersBuildingTechniciansCarpentersandJoinersConstructionProjectManagersConcretersCraneOperatorsDraftspeopleDoggersEngineeringTradespeople-FabricationElectricians

FloorFinishersandCoverersFencersGlassandGlazingTradespeopleInsulationInstallersLiftElectriciansMobilePlantOperatorsPaintersandDecoratorsPavingInstallersPlasterers-FibrousPlasterers-SolidPlasticsandCompositesProcessorsPlumbersRefrigerationandAirConditioningAssociatesRoofersSawDoctorsSignwritersStonemasonsTilers-WallandFloor.

Furniture constructionPartofmakingabuildingintoausablespaceforpeopletoliveandworkisthefurniture.Cabinetmakersmakeorrepairfurnitureusingsolidtimber,flat-panelortimber-basedproducts.

Woodtradespeoplesetup,operateandmaintainwoodworkingmachines,suchasplaners,moulders,drillingmachines,routers,woodturninglathes,chiselsandsaws,whichtheyusetocut,plane,shapeandsandwoodtoarequiredshapeandsize.Cabinetmakersmayspecialiseinparticularareassuchasreproductionofantiquefurniture,kitchenfittings,bedroomsuites,officefurniture,diningsuites,shopfittingsandoccasionalfurniture.

Occupations in this industry include:

CabinetmakersWoodMachinistsWoodTradespeople.

Occupations in this industry link to the:• CivilConstructionindustry

• MetalsandEngineeringindustry

• Miningindustry

• PropertyServicesindustry.

Need more info?ConstructionIndustryTrainingBoardwww.citb.org.au/Careers

Constructmycareerwww.constructmycareer.com.au

AlgebraEqualswww.mitac.org.au/trig/index.htm

www.thejoboutlook.gov.au

www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au

Career information about specific occupations has been sourced from www.myfuture.com.au and industry skills bodies. South Australian labour market information has been sourced from ABS Catalogue 6291.0.55.003 Labour Force, average of 4 quarters to November quarter 2011. South Australian information on Age, Region and Income has been sourced from the Australian Census of Population and Housing 2006. Job Openings information is sourced from the South Australian Training and Skills Commission, (unpublished) 2011.© Copyright 2012 Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills

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