Discover industries – Construction

Construction is a large industry with apprenticeships and traineeships as the main entry pathway. There are many opportunities for young people to progress their careers.

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Featured industry

This is a large industry in Australia with many employment opportunities for young people.

View top 10 occupations in this industry

About Construction

Construction is a large employing industry in Australia.  

Individuals and businesses in this industry are mainly involved in activities like: 

  • demolition, clearing and site preparation 

  • residential and non-residential building 

  • heavy and civil engineering construction 

  • other construction services. 

Many workers are male and work full-time; part-time or shift work is rare. 

Tradespeople are vital to Construction, with apprenticeships and traineeships the main entry pathway. Additional training and experience can also lead to management jobs.  A third of workers are employed in lower-skilled jobs that do not need post-school qualifications. 

Construction jobs, such as bricklaying, can be physically demanding, leading to many people leaving the industry when they are older. This opens opportunities for young people. 

The industry also hires many people who do not work directly in construction, such as accountants, recruiters and people who work in procurement. 

Source: Labour Market Insights, Jan 2024

Workforce share in Australia

Percentage of workers who have their main job in this industry. 

9.3 %
Employed in Australia

The number of people this industry employs in Australia.

1,290,865
Industry growth in Australia

This is the projected amount this industry will grow in Australia over the next 5 years. 

1.8 %

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), Employment Projections, May 2023.

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Current and future employment in Australia

See how Australia's Construction industry is projected to grow by 9.5% over a 10-year period compared to an average Australian industry growth rate of 14.2%.

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Largest employing occupations

This table shows the top 10 occupations in Construction by employment numbers.

Carpenters and Joiners
Electricians
Construction Managers
Plumbers
Building and Plumbing Labourers
Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians
Painting Trades Worker
Earthmoving Plant Operators
Concreter
Gardeners

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, 2021

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Retail Trade

Across Australia this industry offers jobs in a variety of stores. Part-time and weekend work is common, which makes it ideal for people who are still studying.

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Accommodation and Food Services

Nationwide this industry provides good entry-level jobs across Australia in hotels, motels, cafes, restaurants, take-away shops, bars and pubs.

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