National Water Skills Audit - Australian Water Association

Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employed arelatively higher number of metal fitters and machinistscompared to the other two sectors, and Sewerageand Drainage employed relatively more plumbers andfewer electricians. Most metal fitters and machinistsand electricians had qualifications at the Certificate IIIor IV level but about 10 per cent had no qualifications.In contrast, only about 60 per cent of plumbers had aqualification at Certificate III or higher level and 36 percent had no qualifications.Almost all tradespersons employed in the three tradeoccupations are male. Metal fitters and machinistsare generally older than electricians and plumbers.In particular, almost a quarter of all plumbers andelectricians were under the age of 25 years. This isperhaps an indication of higher rate of apprenticeshiptraining these two occupations.About 5,100 stationary and mobile plant operators wereemployed in the three sectors. While about half of themhad no qualifications, most of the rest had a CertificateIII or IV. Once again, a relatively higher proportion ofthose who worked in the Water Supply segment hadqualifications.Most stationary and mobile plant operators are male.Relatively fewer of them are aged 15–19 years comparedto the workforce as a whole but by the same token moreof them are aged 35–54 years.ICE WaRM • National Skills Audit (Phase One) Report 47