Architectural Draftspersons

ANZSCO ID 312111

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
12,000
Future Growth
N/A
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
78%
Female Share
26%
Average age
39

Summary

Architectural Draftspersons complete Architects' concepts by preparing drawings and plans, and liaising with builders and contractors.

Also known as: Architectural Associate.

Specialisations: Building Drafting Officer.

A formal qualification in architecture or building design is usually needed to work as an Architectural Draftsperson. Vocational Education and Training (VET) and university are both common study pathways.

Tasks

  • Assists construction managers, architects and surveyors in planning and organisation.

  • Interprets plans, regulations and codes of practice.

  • Prepares preliminary sketches, working drawings and specifications.

  • Prepares, edits and revises plans, maps, charts and drawings.

  • Co-ordinates works programs.

Characteristics

Job Type
Technicians And Trades Workers
Skill Level
High skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
n/a
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • University
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
Interests
  • Practical
  • Analytical
  • Creative
  • Administrative
Physical Demand
  • Light

Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Architectural, Building & Surveying Technicians, under the outlook section.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 78% of people employed as Architectural Draftspersons work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 12 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 44 hours per week in their main job. This is the same as the all jobs average.

    Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.


Industries

Main industries

1
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
65.1%
2
Construction
25.6%
3
Manufacturing
3.0%
4
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services
1.0%
5
Other industries
3.6%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

28.9% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

31.3% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

18.3% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

5.2% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

12.5% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

2.1% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.7% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

1.2% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Architectural Draftspersons All Jobs Average
NSW 28.9 31.6
VIC 31.3 25.6
QLD 18.3 20.0
SA 5.2 7.0
WA 12.5 10.8
TAS 2.1 2.0
NT 0.7 1.0
ACT 1.2 1.9


  • Around 70% of Architectural Draftspersons live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.

    Victoria has a large share of employment relative to its population size.

    The regions with the largest share of workers are:

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
39
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
26%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Architectural Draftspersons is 39 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.

    Females make up 26% of the workforce. This is 22 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.

Age Profile (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Architectural Draftspersons All Jobs Average
15-19 0.6 5.0
20-24 8.5 9.3
25-34 29.4 22.9
35-44 26.1 22.0
45-54 18.5 21.6
55-59 6.6 9.0
60-64 5.8 6.0
65 and Over 4.5 4.2
Median Age 39 40

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Employment Pathways

Education, training and experience

A formal qualification in architecture or building design is usually needed to work as an Architectural Draftsperson. Vocational Education and Training (VET) and university are both common study pathways.

Registration or licencing may be required.

Visit

  • Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
  • ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Construction, Plumbing and Services VET training pathways.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Type of Qualification Architectural Draftspersons All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 10.0 10.1
Bachelor degree 27.5 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 38.5 11.6
Certificate III/IV 11.9 21.1
Year 12 9.2 18.1
Year 11 1.4 4.8
Year 10 and below 1.3 12.5

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.


Skills and Knowledge

Employers look for Architectural, Building & Surveying Technicians who are reliable, work well in a team and have a strong work ethic.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 59%

    Mathematics

    Using maths to solve problems.

  • 55%

    Critical thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • 54%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 52%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 52%

    Judgment and decision making

    Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.

  • 52%

    Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.

  • 50%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 50%

    Active learning

    Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.

  • 50%

    Complex problem solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • 50%

    Systems analysis

    Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.

  • 50%

    Time management

    Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.

  • 48%

    Active listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • 46%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 45%

    Learning strategies

    Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.

  • 45%

    Quality control analysis

    Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.

  • 43%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 41%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 39%

    Operations analysis

    Understanding needs and product requirements to create a design.

  • 34%

    Persuasion

    Talking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.

  • 32%

    Management of material resources

    Providing the right equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do work.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 90%

    Technical design

    Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • 81%

    Building and construction

    Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.

  • 71%

    Engineering and technology

    Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.

  • 67%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 61%

    English language

    English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • 56%

    Education and training

    Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • 55%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 52%

    Law and government

    How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.

  • 48%

    Customer and personal service

    Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.

  • 44%

    Public safety and security

    Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.

  • 44%

    Production and processing

    Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.

  • 40%

    Physics

    The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.

  • 39%

    Geography

    Describing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.

  • 34%

    History and archeology

    Events of the past, their causes, how we learn about them, and how they influence the way we live today.

  • 33%

    Sociology and anthropology

    Group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

  • 32%

    Administration and management

    Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.

  • 32%

    Fine arts

    Compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

  • 31%

    Mechanical

    Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • 28%

    Sales and marketing

    Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

  • 24%

    Communications and media

    Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 63%

    Visualization

    Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.

  • 61%

    Near vision

    See details that are up-close (within a few feet).

  • 61%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 59%

    Written comprehension

    Read and understand written information.

  • 57%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 55%

    Problem spotting

    Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.

  • 55%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 55%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 55%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 54%

    Mathematics

    Choose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.

  • 52%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 52%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 50%

    Flexibility of closure

    See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.

  • 50%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.

  • 50%

    Brainstorming

    Come up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.

  • 50%

    Originality

    Come up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.

  • 45%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 45%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 43%

    Perceptual speed

    Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

  • 41%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.


Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

  • 73%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

    Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.

  • 70%

    Planning and prioritising work

    Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.

  • 68%

    Drafting, laying out, and specifying parts

    Detailing and describing how devices, parts or equipment are to be made, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.

  • 66%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 64%

    Communicating within a team

    Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 59%

    Looking for changes over time

    Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.

  • 59%

    Thinking creatively

    Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.

  • 58%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

  • 58%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

  • 56%

    Working with computers

    Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

  • 56%

    Checking compliance with standards

    Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

  • 53%

    Collecting and organising information

    Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.

  • 52%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 52%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

    Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.

  • 52%

    Making sense of information and ideas

    Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.

  • 51%

    Checking for errors or defects

    Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.

  • 48%

    Leading and encouraging a team

    Encouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

  • 46%

    Assessing and evaluating things

    Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.

  • 46%

    Communicating with the public

    Giving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 45%

    Explaining things to people

    Helping people to understand and use information.


Interests and demands

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

  • 81%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

  • 76%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

  • 67%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 62%

    Administrative

    Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

  • 33%

    Enterprising

    Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • 19%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 64%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 62%

    Achievement

    Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

  • 57%

    Recognition

    Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.

  • 57%

    Relationships

    Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • 57%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 48%

    Independence

    Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 96%

    Electronic mail

    Use electronic mail.

  • 95%

    Spend time sitting

    Spend time sitting at work.

  • 93%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 93%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 87%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

    Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.

  • 85%

    Indoors, heat controlled

    Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.

  • 81%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 81%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 80%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 79%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 75%

    Unstructured work

    Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.

  • 74%

    Contact with people

    Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.

  • 73%

    Repeating same tasks

    Repeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.

  • 69%

    Lead or coordinate a team

    Lead others to do work activities.

  • 69%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 69%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 66%

    Letters and memos

    Write letters and memos.

  • 62%

    Physically close to people

    Work physically close to other people.

  • 62%

    Contact with the public

    Work with customers or the public.

  • 60%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 17-3011.01 - Architectural Drafters.


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