Civil Engineering Draftspersons
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Civil Engineering Draftspersons prepare detailed drawings and plans for civil engineering work in support of Civil Engineering Professionals and Engineering Technologists.
Specialisations: Civil Engineering Design Draftsperson, Plumbing Engineering Draftsperson, Road Design Draftsperson, Sewage Reticulation Drafting Officer, Structural Engineering Drafting Officer.
A Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in civil engineering, engineering drafting, civil construction design or another related field is usually needed to work as a Civil Engineering Draftsperson. Some workers have a university qualification.
Tasks
-
Prepares sketches, charts, tabulations, plans and designs for civil engineering works such as drainage, water supply, sewage reticulation systems, roads, airports, dams and other structures.
Characteristics
-
University
-
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
-
Informal or on-the-job
-
Practical
-
Analytical
-
Administrative
-
Light
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, Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
-
Around 89% of people employed as Civil Engineering Draftspersons work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 23 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 42 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.
Industries
Main industries
-
Most Civil Engineering Draftspersons work in the Professional, scientific and technical services industry. They are also employed in industries like:
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Civil Engineering Draftspersons | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 26.0 | 31.6 |
VIC | 19.6 | 25.6 |
QLD | 30.7 | 20.0 |
SA | 6.6 | 7.0 |
WA | 13.4 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.6 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.7 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.4 | 1.9 |
-
Around 63% of Civil Engineering Draftspersons live in capital cities, similar to the all jobs average of 62%.
Queensland 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
-
The median age of Civil Engineering Draftspersons is 38 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 15% of the workforce. This is 33 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)
Age Bracket | Civil Engineering Draftspersons | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 1.1 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 6.1 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 31.3 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 27.1 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 18.8 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 7.3 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 5.3 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 3.0 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 38 | 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 Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in civil engineering, engineering drafting, civil construction design or another related field is usually needed to work as a Civil Engineering Draftsperson. Some workers have a university qualification.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Resources and Infrastructure Industry VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Civil Engineering Draftspersons | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 4.0 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 17.7 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 45.9 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 16.9 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 12.7 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 1.4 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 1.5 | 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 Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians who interact well with others, are reliable and provide good customer service.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
55%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
-
55%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
-
50%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
-
48%
SpeakingTalking to others.
-
46%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
46%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
46%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
46%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
46%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
46%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
-
43%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
43%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
43%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
43%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
-
41%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
41%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
-
41%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
-
41%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
-
36%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
-
36%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
82%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
69%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
68%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
63%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
61%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
55%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
-
55%
GeographyDescribing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.
-
52%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
49%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
43%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
40%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
37%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
36%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
35%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
34%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
33%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
33%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
28%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
27%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
22%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
-
55%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
55%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
-
55%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
-
54%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
-
54%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
-
54%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
-
52%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
52%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
-
48%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
48%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
48%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
-
46%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
-
46%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
45%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
-
45%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
-
45%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
-
43%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
-
43%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
-
41%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
-
37%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
85%
Drafting, laying out, and specifying partsDetailing and describing how devices, parts or equipment are to be made, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
-
77%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
67%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
65%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
-
65%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
63%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
62%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
61%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
61%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
-
60%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
59%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
59%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
56%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
-
52%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
50%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
49%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
48%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
-
48%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
-
46%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
-
41%
Explaining things to peopleHelping 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.
-
90%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
86%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
57%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
52%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
-
29%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
19%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
Values
-
62%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
52%
IndependenceWork 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.
-
52%
RecognitionAdvancement 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.
-
52%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
48%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
38%
RelationshipsServe 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.
Demands
-
94%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
-
92%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
91%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
90%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
-
90%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
85%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
83%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
80%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
-
79%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
79%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
73%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
-
70%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
-
68%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
67%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
65%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
-
64%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
63%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
62%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
-
60%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
-
58%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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, 17-3011.02 - Civil Drafters.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
-
Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.