ANZSCO: 2414 - AWPA

ANZSCO: 3122
CIVIL ENGINEERING DRAFTSPERSONS AND TECHNICIANS
… assist in civil engineering research, design, construction, operations and maintenance.
This Unit Group contains the following occupations included on the 2012 Skilled
Occupation List (SOL):
Civil Engineering Draftsperson
Civil Engineering Technician
Indicative Skill Level
Most occupations in this Unit Group have a level of skill commensurate with the qualifications
and experience in AQF Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma or Diploma (ANZSCO Skill Level
2). At least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualifications listed
above. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in
addition to the formal qualification.
Specialised Occupation Criteria
Long lead time
Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians meet the criteria for long lead time, as entry to
this occupation requires a substantial training commitment.
Employment as a Civil Engineering Draftsperson generally requires the completion of a
university qualification of at least four years study (full-time equivalent), such as a Bachelor
of Engineering.
High use
Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians meet one aspect of the criteria for high use,
showing that the skills which people have acquired through education and training are being
deployed for the uses intended.
Of new graduates employed as Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians, 91% had
studied in a related field, such as engineering, building, or architecture and urban
environment (Australian Graduate Survey, 2010).
High risk
Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians also meet the criteria for high risk/high
disruption. This indicates that shortage of skills causes significant cost to the community and/or
economy.
Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians are required to be licensed in some
states and territories, and there is a strong interdependency between the work done by
Civil Engineers and Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians.
Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians are important to meet government policy
priorities. These include the Green Building Fund, the Solar Flagships Program, the Nation
Building Program, and Building Australia Fund Projects.

SOL Summary
Employment in this occupation was rising strongly until late 2010, but over 2011 there was a
marked decline, with the level of employment at November 2011 being 6.0% below its
November 2006 level. However, employment growth is expected to be strong over the next five
years to 2015-16, providing additional openings, and shortages are apparent despite low
activity in employing industries.
The workforce has a relatively old age profile, with around 45% of workers aged 45 years and
over, so replacement demand is likely to provide a significant number of job openings over the
next decade or so. VET completions in recent years have been declining.
The evidence indicates the demand for Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Civil Engineering
Technicians is expected to exceed supply over the medium to longer term.

Occupation trends
ANZSCO: 3122
Employment level
6 digit employment
(2006 Census)
Employment growth
Unemployment rate
Civil Engineering Draftspersons and
Technicians
8700 A high proportion of workers (89.6%) are employed full-time.
3122-11 Civil Engineering Draftsperson 4190
3122-12 Civil Engineering Technician 2710
Over the five years to November 2011, employment in this occupation
decreased by 6.0% (compared with growth of 10.4% for all occupations).
Employment over the next five years is expected to increase by 22.3%.
1.1% compared with 3.1% for all occupations.
Educational profile
Vacancies
Gender
Labour turnover
Age profile
34.3% have an Advanced Diploma or Diploma and 26.5% do not hold postschool
qualifications.
The Internet Vacancy Index (IVI) rose by 5.1% over the 12 months to
November 2011. Vacancies for all occupations fell by 7.1%.
11.8% of workers in this occupation are female (compared with 45.5% for all
occupations).
Annually, 10.0% of Building and Engineering Technicians (which includes
Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians) leave their occupation
group, creating some potential job openings (this compares with 14.2%
across all occupations).
The median age is 42 years and 45.1% of workers are aged 45 years and
over (compared with 38.5% for all occupations).
Earnings Median full-time weekly earnings (before tax) are $1350 compared with $1050
for all occupations.
Graduate outcomes
National Centre for Vocational Education Research data are at a highly
aggregated level, combining outcomes across the various engineering
specialities, competitive manufacturing and some textile, clothing and
footwear courses under the title Engineering and related technologies.
However, for this group, 83.0% of 2010 Diploma graduates were employed
(64.9% full-time) six months after graduating, 33.3% of whom were employed
in the occupation group for which they trained.
Skill shortages
National shortages of Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians were
evident between 2006 and 2011, except for 2009.
Labour market
This group is assessed as a single labour market. Widespread shortages were identified between 2006 and
2008 when demand was particularly strong, but the labour market eased in 2009 and shortages abated as
employers received higher numbers of applications and filled a larger proportion of vacancies.
Shortages re-emerged in 2010, and have persisted in 2011. In 2011, slightly more than half the surveyed
vacancies were filled and there were, on average, 1.1 suitable applicants per vacancy (similar to results
recorded in 2010).
Employers generally attract quite large numbers of applications but the vast majority are considered to be
unsuitable for a variety of reasons, including lacking skills on particular software packages, poor
communication skills, and lack of specific experience. The areas for which recruitment is difficult vary across
states and territories but include experience in oil, gas and mining operations and in infrastructure and urban
development.
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) January 2012

Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) January 2012