Construction Jobs in Australia

Information for those employed and skilled in the construction industry who want to move to live and work in Australia

Continuing our series of guides and articles about finding jobs in Australia we can confirm that there remains strong demand for professionals in the construction industry Down Under.

Those who have gained a high level of qualification, skill and experience in any field relevant to the construction industry and who are keen to continue and advance their careers in Australia, stand a good chance of gaining the points they need on their visa applications to be accepted as new residents of Australia.

Electricians, plumbers, quantity surveyors, engineers, project managers, architects, contract administrators and designers are all in demand – and if you search job sites you will quickly see that this demand exists across Australia.  So, if you’re interested in finding your way into the nation and you have a background in the industry, here is our guide to construction jobs in Australia.

The first thing to note is that you need to be professionally trained and qualified if you’re going to be applying for specialist jobs in Australia, what’s more, if you want to include your skills and experienced to count towards the points you need to gain an entry visa, you will have to have any qualifications notarised and authorised.

If you work in the construction industry in the UK at the moment you will be well aware that the recession we’re in is impacting your industry strongly.  Whilst demand for accommodation, retail space and commercial premises remains relatively strong, the banks’ appetite for lending has been eroded and there are serious cash flow issues affecting the construction industry’s progress.  Unfortunately Australia has been impacted by the same global effects of the financial crisis, and this means that its once very healthy construction industry has also been adversely affected.  So, whereas three years ago getting into Australia and working as a builder, an architect, a plasterer or an engineer was almost easy, today there are fewer vacancies yet even more applicants.

This should not put you off applying for any jobs you see advertised, nor should it discourage you from applying to move to Australia under the terms of the General Skilled Migrant programme and by using your professional qualifications and experience to gain you the entry points you need.  Australia’s economy is not in as dire a state as Britain’s, therefore its property market is likely to rebound far more quickly.  Additionally, there are always jobs vacancies thanks to staff turnover, retirements and so on, so if you do want to end up living in Australia and you’re a professional in the construction industry, there is nothing to say that you cannot find work to enable you to move Down Under.

These days it may be harder to secure a job – but it is not impossible.  One method of approach is visiting the up and coming employment expos in London and Leeds and trying to find a job offer before you even apply for a visa to move to Australia.  A firm offer of a job from a registered employer will almost guarantee you a visa to emigrate.  Alternatively, construction skills are still listed on the ‘skills in demand database’ on the Australian government’s immigration website.  What this means is that your skills will win you points if you apply to move Down Under without a job offer in hand.

You can also consider targeting would-be employers, applying for vacancies you see listed online, getting on forums and asking expats in Australia about possible job openings and being as proactive as possible in finding work in Australia in the construction industry before you move over there.  Those who relocate with a job already lined up will find the entire transition a smoother one.

Good luck.