Landscape Architects
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Landscape Architects plan and design land areas for projects such as open space networks, parks, schools, institutions, roads, external areas for all building types, land subdivisions, and commercial, industrial and residential sites.
Tasks
-
Consults with professionals and clients about external area designs, costs and construction.
-
Compiles and analyses site and community data about geographical and ecological features, landforms, soils, vegetation, site hydrology, visual characteristics and human-made structures, to formulate land use and development recommendations, and for preparing environmental impact statements.
-
Prepares reports, site plans, working drawings, specifications and cost estimates for land development, shows location and details of proposals, including ground modelling, structures, vegetation and access.
-
Inspects construction work in progress to ensure compliance with plans, specifications and quality standards.
Characteristics
-
University
-
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
-
Practical
-
Analytical
-
Creative
-
Enterprising
-
Sedentary
-
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, Architects and Landscape Architects, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
-
Around 73% of people employed as Landscape Architects work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 7 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
-
Most Landscape Architects 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 | Landscape Architects | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 32.6 | 31.6 |
VIC | 30.6 | 25.6 |
QLD | 17.3 | 20.0 |
SA | 5.8 | 7.0 |
WA | 10.7 | 10.8 |
TAS | 0.7 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.4 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.8 | 1.9 |
-
Around 80% of Landscape Architects 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:
- Melbourne - Inner
- Sydney - City and Inner South
- Sydney - Eastern Suburbs
- Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby
- Brisbane Inner City.
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 Landscape Architects 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 47% of the workforce. This is similar to 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 | Landscape Architects | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.4 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 5.5 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 30.8 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 28.5 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 20.1 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 7.4 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 4.3 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 3.1 | 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 bachelor degree in landscape architecture is usually needed to work as a Landscape Architect. Some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification.
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 Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation & Land Management VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Landscape Architects | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 26.8 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 52.7 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 10.7 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 5.0 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 4.0 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.1 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 0.7 | 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 Architects and Landscape Architects who can communicate clearly, work well in a team and have strong interpersonal skills.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
57%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
-
57%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
-
55%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
55%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
55%
SpeakingTalking to others.
-
54%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
54%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
54%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
54%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
-
52%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
52%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
-
52%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
-
50%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
-
50%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
48%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
-
48%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
46%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
-
46%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
-
46%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
-
46%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
85%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
70%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
68%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
-
67%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
64%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
64%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
63%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
62%
GeographyDescribing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.
-
60%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
60%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
59%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
56%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
-
55%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
53%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
53%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
52%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
45%
Fine artsCompose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
-
43%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
43%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
41%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
-
59%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
-
57%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
-
57%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
57%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
-
57%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
-
57%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
-
57%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
-
57%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
57%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
55%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
-
55%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
-
55%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
54%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
54%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
-
50%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
-
45%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
-
43%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
-
43%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
-
43%
MultitaskingDo two or more things at the same time.
-
43%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
83%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
-
79%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
78%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
77%
Drafting, laying out, and specifying partsDetailing and describing how devices, parts or equipment are to be made, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
-
76%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
74%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
73%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
72%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
-
72%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
71%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
-
71%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
-
70%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
63%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
63%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
63%
Guiding and directing staffGuiding and directing staff, including setting and monitoring performance standards.
-
62%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
61%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
-
56%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
55%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
-
51%
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%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
-
76%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
71%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
57%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
33%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
24%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
Values
-
81%
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.
-
74%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
71%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
67%
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.
-
48%
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.
-
43%
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.
Demands
-
99%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
98%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
-
91%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
88%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
86%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
86%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
85%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
-
85%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
-
83%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
81%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
80%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
78%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
76%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
-
75%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
-
72%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
-
71%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
68%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
68%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
-
64%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
-
61%
In an enclosed vehicle or equipmentWork in a closed vehicle (e.g., car).
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, 17-1012.00 - Landscape Architects.
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.