The 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.

1. Building construction,
including furniture
construction
Employment prospects Quick facts about this industry If you are at school
The Building Construction industry employs For vocational education in SACE, ask your
49,500 South Australians, which is just S
cience and maths are important for training and work in VET coordinator at school, and visit
over 6% of the State’s workforce. this industry. www.sace.sa.edu.au to check the VET
recognition register. Check the following
Around 13,500 jobs are expected to open up
• ost people work full-time in this industry.
M industries to see which qualifications can
over the next five years due to industry growth
be recognised in the SACE. Some of the
and replacement of people who will retire. Most • he most common qualification held by workers is a trade
T Certificate III qualifications may be available
of the people working in the Construction industry
qualification (i.e. Certificate III). for Training Guarantee for SACE Students.
are tradespeople or labourers, and they mostly
build, finish, repair or renovate homes, shops, • Construction
• hile the number of women working in the industry is growing, it’s
W
offices and multi-storey commercial buildings. • Furnishing
still mostly men that work in this industry.
Almost two thirds of employment is in the If you are thinking about VET,
metropolitan area (northern, southern, • eople working in this industry are of a similar age profile to the
P vocational qualifications include:
eastern and western Adelaide), but there are average age of the SA workforce. • Certificate I in Furnishing
still plenty of jobs in the regional areas. • or the building trades, there are 28
F
• o work in this industry you need to be physically fit, have good
T qualifications at the Certificate III level,
eyesight, not be afraid of heights, and be good with mathematics, with including bricklaying, carpentry, joinery,
concreting, demolition, dogging, painting,
specialisations in building, contract administration, estimating, sales, rigging, roof tiling, scaffolding, plastering, steel-
site management, trade contracting. fixing, wall and floor lining/tiling, waterproofing,
formwork, paving, shopfitting, signage,
• ualified full-time tradespeople generally earn between $600 to
Q stonemasonry, plumbing and gas fitting
$1,000 per week, often more when there is a shortage of skilled • or the furnishing trades, there are 21
F
tradespeople. qualifications at the Certificate III level, including
furniture making and finishing, glass and glazing,
• onstruction managers and architects earn between $1,000
C upholstery, kitchens and bathrooms, cabinet
and $1,300 per week. making, interior design, coopering, flooring
technology and floor covering and finishing
• ertificate IV in Interior Decoration
C
Top job openings and Furnishing Technology
Carpenters and Joiners • ertificate IV and Diploma in Building and
C
Construction Managers Construction, with specialisations in building,
contract administration, estimating, sales,
Plumbers
site management and trade contracting
Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians
Wall and Floor Tilers
skills.sa.gov.au 1800 506 266 18

2. • ertificate IV and Diploma in Plumbing Services
C Occupations in this industry Floor Finishers and Coverers Occupations in this industry include:
• ertificate IV and Diploma in
C Fencers Cabinetmakers
Building construction
Furnishing Technology Glass and Glazing Tradespeople Wood Machinists
Building Construction is responsible for
• ertificate IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma
C Insulation Installers Wood Tradespeople.
the homes we live in, the schools and
in Furniture Design and Technology Lift Electricians
hospitals we rely on, and the commercial
• ertificate IV, Diploma and Advanced
C Mobile Plant Operators
and industrial buildings in which we work.
Diploma in Interior Design Painters and Decorators
There are a number of production processes Occupations in this
Paving Installers
• ertificate IV and Diploma in
C
in constructing a building, including: Plasterers - Fibrous
industry link to the:
Building and Construction • Civil Construction industry
• architectural and engineering design Plasterers - Solid
• Diploma of Fire Systems Design • Metals and Engineering industry
Plastics and Composites Processors
• Diploma of Hydraulics Services Design. • site preparation
Plumbers • Mining industry
• laying concrete foundations
For more information about the qualifications Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Associates • Property Services industry.
• framework in timber and metal Roofers
and where to go, check the job guide:
• wall and ceiling fabrication and insulation Saw Doctors
www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au
Check www.skills.sa.gov.au to see what • xterior finishing in brick, timber, metal and glass
e Signwriters
courses are available under Skills for All. • nstallation of electrical wiring
i Stonemasons
and plumbing systems Tilers - Wall and Floor.
If you are thinking about university,
• nterior finishing - painting, tiling, flooring,
i Furniture construction
degrees include:
lighting, plumbing, air conditioning, doors, Part of making a building into a usable space
• Bachelor of Architectural Studies shelves, cabinets and other fixtures. for people to live and work is the furniture.
• Bachelor of Built Environment Cabinetmakers make or repair furniture using
• achelor of Construction
B Occupations in this industry include:
solid timber, flat-panel or timber-based products.
Management and Economics Architects
• Bachelor of Design Studies Bricklayers Wood tradespeople set up, operate and Need more info?
• achelor of Design and Technology
B Building Contractors maintain woodworking machines, such as Construction Industry Training Board
Education (Design Technology) Building Site Managers planers, moulders, drilling machines, routers, www.citb.org.au/Careers
• Bachelor of Engineering (Architectural) Building Technicians woodturning lathes, chisels and saws, which
Construct my career
• Bachelor of Interior Architecture. Carpenters and Joiners they use to cut, plane, shape and sand wood www.constructmycareer.com.au
Construction Project Managers to a required shape and size. Cabinetmakers
Check the three South Australian university Algebra Equals
Concreters may specialise in particular areas such as
websites and South Australian Tertiary www.mitac.org.au/trig/index.htm
Crane Operators reproduction of antique furniture, kitchen
Admissions Centre (SATAC) listed at the front fittings, bedroom suites, office furniture, dining
www.thejoboutlook.gov.au
Draftspeople
of this guide. For more information about the suites, shop fittings and occasional furniture. www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au
Doggers
qualifications and where to go, check the job
Engineering Tradespeople - Fabrication
guide: www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au
Electricians
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 19
from the South Australian Training and Skills Commission, (unpublished) 2011.© Copyright 2012 Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills