Concreters

ANZSCO ID 8212

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
41,900
Future Growth
1.7%
Weekly Earnings
$1,725
Full-Time Share
78%
Female Share
1%
Average age
36

Summary

Concreters pour, spread, smooth and finish concrete for structures such as floors, stairs, ramps, footpaths and bridges.

Also known as: Concrete Worker.

Formal qualifications are not usually required to work as a Concreter. Some workers have a certificate II or III in concreting.

Tasks

  • erecting concrete form work and laying steel reinforcing

  • pouring, spreading and levelling concrete using screeds and templates

  • tamping, smoothing, shaping and sealing concrete

  • operating trowelling machines to float, trowel and polish concrete surfaces

  • forming expansion joints and edges using edging tools, jointers and straight edges

  • installing fixtures in concrete such as anchor bolts, steel plates and door sills

  • wetting concrete and rubbing with abrasives to finish vertical surfaces

  • covering concrete with plastic sheeting and sand to cure it

  • cutting lines in concrete using power cutters

  • may cover freshly poured concrete with colouring powders and other materials

Characteristics

Job Type
Labourers
Skill Level
Entry level
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
Above average
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Practical
Physical Demand
  • Medium
  • Heavy

Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers in this occupation is likely to remain stable.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.

Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.

Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.

Projected Change
1.7%
(or 600 jobs)
From
34,800
in 2021
To
35,400
in 2026

Number of Workers

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Year Employment
2011 40,700
2012 42,600
2013 32,300
2014 33,600
2015 35,900
2016 37,500
2017 44,800
2018 41,400
2019 44,700
2020 28,000
2021 34,800
2026 35,400

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 79% of people employed as Concreters work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 13 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 45 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    Median full-time earnings are $1,725 per week, this is higher than the all jobs median ($1,593):

    • 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,355
    • 1 in 4 earn more than $2,175

    Median hourly earnings are $41, this is the same as the all jobs median ($41 per hour).

    Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.

Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Earnings Concreters All Jobs Average
Full-Time Earnings 1,725 1,593
Total Earnings 0 0

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.


Industries

Main industries

1
Construction
89.2%
2
Manufacturing
3.6%
3
Public Administration and Safety
2.1%
4
Administrative and Support Services
1.8%
5
Other industries
3.3%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

28.9% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

28.3% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

23.5% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

6.3% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

9.4% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

1.3% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

1.1% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

1.1% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Concreters All Jobs Average
NSW 28.9 31.6
VIC 28.3 25.6
QLD 23.5 20.0
SA 6.3 7.0
WA 9.4 10.8
TAS 1.3 2.0
NT 1.1 1.0
ACT 1.1 1.9


  • Around 51% of Concreters live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.

    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

Age In Years
36
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
1%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Concreters is 36 years. This is younger than the all jobs average of 40 years.

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

    Females make up 1% of the workforce. This is 47 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 Concreters All Jobs Average
15-19 3.9 5.0
20-24 12.6 9.3
25-34 29.5 22.9
35-44 23.5 22.0
45-54 18.5 21.6
55-59 6.2 9.0
60-64 3.7 6.0
65 and Over 2.2 4.2
Median Age 36 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

Formal qualifications are not usually required to work as a Concreter. Some workers have a certificate II or III in concreting.

Visit

  • 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 Concreters All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 0.2 10.1
Bachelor degree 1.4 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 2.4 11.6
Certificate III/IV 38.9 21.1
Year 12 17.4 18.1
Year 11 8.6 4.8
Year 10 and below 31.1 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 Concreters who are hardworking, can work independently and are physically fit.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 48%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 43%

    Monitoring

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

  • 43%

    Mathematics

    Using maths to solve problems.

  • 39%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 39%

    Time management

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

  • 37%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 37%

    Quality control analysis

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

  • 36%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 34%

    Active listening

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

  • 34%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 34%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 34%

    Management of personnel resources

    Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.

  • 32%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 32%

    Learning strategies

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

  • 32%

    Operation monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

  • 30%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 29%

    Active learning

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

  • 29%

    Serving others

    Looking for ways to help people.

  • 27%

    Persuasion

    Talking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.

  • 27%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 62%

    Building and construction

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

  • 56%

    Mechanical

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

  • 54%

    Administration and management

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

  • 52%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 49%

    Engineering and technology

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

  • 45%

    Technical design

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

  • 43%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 42%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 42%

    Production and processing

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

  • 41%

    Chemistry

    Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.

  • 41%

    English language

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

  • 38%

    Education and training

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

  • 35%

    Physics

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

  • 31%

    Transportation

    Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.

  • 28%

    Psychology

    Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.

  • 27%

    Law and government

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

  • 26%

    Sales and marketing

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

  • 26%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

  • 26%

    Personnel and human resources

    Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.

  • 19%

    Economics and accounting

    Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 59%

    Trunk strength

    Use your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.

  • 54%

    Extent flexibility

    Bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.

  • 50%

    Near vision

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

  • 48%

    Manual dexterity

    Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

  • 48%

    Control precision

    Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.

  • 48%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 48%

    Visualization

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

  • 45%

    Multilimb coordination

    Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.

  • 45%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 43%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 41%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 41%

    Sorting or ordering

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

  • 41%

    Stamina

    Exercise for a long time without getting winded or out of breath.

  • 41%

    Depth perception

    Decide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.

  • 41%

    Dynamic strength

    Exercise for a long time without your muscles getting tired.

  • 41%

    Speed of limb movement

    Quickly move the arms and legs.

  • 37%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 37%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 37%

    Inductive reasoning

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

  • 36%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.


Activities

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

  • 71%

    Doing physically active work

    Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.

  • 63%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 61%

    Handling and moving objects

    Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.

  • 58%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 57%

    Controlling equipment or machines

    Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).

  • 56%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 55%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

    Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

  • 55%

    Checking for errors or defects

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

  • 54%

    Thinking creatively

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

  • 52%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

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

  • 52%

    Coordinating the work of a team

    Getting members of a group to work together to finish a task.

  • 51%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

    Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.

  • 49%

    Assessing and evaluating things

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

  • 48%

    Scheduling work and activities

    Working out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

  • 48%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

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

  • 48%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 46%

    Collecting and organising information

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

  • 46%

    Training and teaching others

    Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.

  • 45%

    Checking compliance with standards

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

  • 44%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of 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.

  • 100%

    Practical

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

  • 43%

    Enterprising

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

  • 38%

    Administrative

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

  • 24%

    Analytical

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

  • 19%

    Creative

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

  • 14%

    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.
  • 62%

    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.

  • 52%

    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.

  • 43%

    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.

  • 38%

    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.

  • 33%

    Achievement

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


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 100%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

    Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.

  • 100%

    Outdoors, exposed to weather

    Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.

  • 95%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

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

  • 89%

    Very hot or cold temperatures

    Work in very hot or cold temperatures.

  • 87%

    Health and safety of others

    Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

  • 86%

    Dangerous equipment

    Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.

  • 86%

    Walking and running

    Spend time walking and running.

  • 83%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 80%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 79%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

    Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.

  • 79%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 78%

    Competition

    Compete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.

  • 78%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 78%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 77%

    Bending or twisting your body

    Spend time bending or twisting your body.

  • 75%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 75%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 75%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 74%

    Kneeling, crouching, stooping, or crawling

    Spend time kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling.

  • 73%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

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, 47-2051.00 - Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers.


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