Careers in construction

Discover careers in construction, with information on pathways, roles, and resources for students, families, educators and those considering a career change.

Ashlyn and 2 colleagues are standing on site reviewing a plan.
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Why choose a career in construction?

Construction is a large growth industry that employs more than 1.3 million people in Australia. There are a diverse range of career opportunities available and if you have some of the following qualities, an exciting career in construction may be your best option:

  • open to learning
  • mathematics
  • problem-solving skills
  • communication and reading skills
  • technology skills
  • interested in creating things with your hands
  • enjoy working in a team and being proactive.

There has never been a better time to learn new skills and start your career in construction with free and subsidised trade and training courses available through TAFE NSW, Skills NSW and Smart and Skilled.

What types of construction roles are available?

There are many rewarding careers available. Some roles in the construction industry include:

  • Electrician
  • Engineering Manager
  • Civil Engineer
  • Painter
  • Cabinet Maker
  • Bricklayer
  • Scaffolder
  • Carpenter
  • Plant Operator
  • Contract Administrator
  • Building Designer
  • Project Manager
  • Project Director
  • Site Supervisor
  • Environmental Designer and many more!

For more detail on specific occupations, career paths and qualification requirements for roles, head to the Careers NSW website or Women Building Australia.

Woman on a construction site wearing hi-vis and wearing a hard hat.
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Students 

Students in NSW have the option of studying Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses at school or through TAFE NSW, private or community training providers. 

Your school may already offer options to study construction related courses. Talk to your school careers adviser, they can provide information, guidance and advice to help you make an informed decision about what to do.

Construction VET courses

VET courses in schools provide a pathway into construction occupations. VET programs, including school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs) and work placements, are a great way for students to experience work and undertake formal, on the job training as part of their HSC.

School-based apprentice and traineeship

School-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs)  let NSW Year 10–12 students start a career while completing their HSC. Earn while you learn, gain hands-on industry training, and graduate with a nationally recognised qualification, full-time or part-time, leading to strong job prospects in construction and beyond.

Infrastructure traineeship program

The Infrastructure Traineeship Program offers Year 12 leavers paid, two‑year on‑the‑job experience across NSW infrastructure projects. Rotate through government, contractor and consultant roles, study with TAFE, gain nationally recognised qualifications, mentoring and industry connections, and start a career in a growing, inclusive sector.

Find out how to apply here.

Additional resources for students

Career changer

Thinking about a career change into the construction industry? This section is designed to help you understand where to start and the pathways available to make the move with confidence. Explore practical advice, and next steps to help you transition into the industry.
I’m interested in changing my career to work in construction

A career in construction is a great option as one of Australia’s largest growing industries.

Pursuing an apprenticeship is your first step to getting your foot in the door. An apprenticeship gives you the opportunity to complete your qualifications while being able to work in the related job and get paid.

I’m interested in an apprenticeship

What is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a paid job where you can learn and gain valuable on the job experience over a 3-4 year period. Along with on-the-job training, you will also spend at least 20% of your working hours completing classroom-based learning with a university or training provider to become a qualified trades person.

Useful links:

I’m interested in a traineeship

What is a traineeship?

A traineeship is paid on-the-job practical training with an employer, where you get to train under a supervisor and learn about the industry and job that you're in. A traineeship lasts around one to three years.

Discover Fee-free traineeships

I’m interested in a job

Workforce Australia and I Work For advertise a range of job opportunities in NSW

I'm interested in upskilling

Discover a range of short courses and support available to help you upskill and boost your chances of progressing your career.

Visit the Skills NSW training course information.

Additional resources

TAFE NSW fee-free short courses

Apprentices and trainees self-help and FAQs

Construction worker and supervisor in safety gear discussing plans at a building site

Get inspired

Women's stories

1:35

Women in Trades

Alexandra Henley-Barker, originally a jeweler, is an auto electrician working on the repair and maintenance of trucks and machinery right across the Western Harbour Tunnel.

Read transcript
Video transcript

Women in Trades

When I was a kid, I used to go to the tip with my dad and bring home old broken gear and strip it and try to fix it, and just loved getting into the guts of things, figuring out how it worked. My name’s Alex and I'm an Auto Electrician at the Western Harbour Tunnel project. I help with a lot of repair and maintenance on the plant gear on site, underground and on the surface. 

I work on a large variety of machinery, everything from down to all the machines cutting at the face or the trucks that haul the dirt up to the surface and all the support vehicles. Straight out of school, I got into a totally different trade as a jeweller. I always loved tinkering, so I did that as a hobby. Got into that. 

After that apprenticeship, I did a lot of travelling, came back, thought I should get another trade under my belt. I knew I enjoyed doing a trade. It was actually one of my cousins that encouraged me to get into the industry. Because I love tinkering so much, he thought electrical might be the right path for me. I'm really glad I chose to be an auto electrician. 

For me, I knew I wouldn't thrive in an office environment. I like being outside working as part of a project. It makes me feel really proud. It's really cool to be a part of something that I know one day I'll drive past and know that I was a part of helping put it all together. It's really important to have strong female role models in the industry, to encourage the next generation and younger women to be brave enough to come into an industry that for us, we didn't feel fully welcomed into. 

But if we can open that door for the next generation, that's amazing. My advice to women looking to get into the industry is to just jump straight in. If you're passionate about what you do, if you love what you do, just go for it. 

Where to start

Resources for parents

As a parent of a high-school student, you may have concerns about your child’s future career. Are they going to choose the right career? It’s challenging to know what the ‘right career’ is for each child. The opportunities in construction for a successful career may be better than what you think.

Resources for educators

Your role as a teacher or careers adviser is so important in guiding young women towards successful and rewarding careers. Some young women know what they want to do, others need more information or are still exploring their options.

Please find some useful links below to guide you when speaking to young women about a career in construction.

Women's stories

Find out what its like to work in construction from firsthand stories of women working in the industry.

FAQs

Learn about the construction industry and what it can offer you.

Contact us

Get in touch with the Women in Construction team.

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