Construction Managers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Construction Managers plan, organise, direct, control and coordinate the construction of civil engineering projects, buildings and dwellings, and the physical and human resources involved in building and construction.
Tasks
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interpreting architectural drawings and specifications
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coordinating labour resources, and procurement and delivery of materials, plant and equipment
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consulting with Architects, Engineering Professionals and other professionals, and Technical and Trades Workers
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negotiating with building owners, property developers and subcontractors involved in the construction process to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget
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preparing tenders and contract bids
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operating and implementing coordinated work programs for sites
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ensuring adherence to building legislation and standards of performance, quality, cost and safety
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arranging submission of plans to local authorities
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building under contract, or subcontracting specialised building services
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overseeing the standard and progress of subcontractors' work
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arranging building inspections by local authorities
Characteristics
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University
-
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Practical
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Administrative
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Enterprising
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Sedentary
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:
- is expected to grow strongly
- is likely to reach 123,300 by 2026.
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.
Number of Workers
Year | Employment |
---|---|
2011 | 80,300 |
2012 | 65,800 |
2013 | 76,100 |
2014 | 76,900 |
2015 | 79,000 |
2016 | 91,900 |
2017 | 105,300 |
2018 | 105,400 |
2019 | 110,100 |
2020 | 108,400 |
2021 | 111,900 |
2026 | 123,300 |
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 89% of people employed as Construction Managers 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 48 hours per week in their main job. This is 4 hours more than the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
More than half of workers regularly work overtime or extra hours (either paid or unpaid).
Median full-time earnings are $3,497 per week, this is much higher than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $2,724
- 1 in 4 earn more than $4,440
Median hourly earnings are $78, this is much more than 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. Overtime hours: ABS, Characteristics of Employment, 2021. 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)
Earnings | Construction Managers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 3,497 | 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
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Most Construction Managers work in the Construction industry. They are also employed in industries like:
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2021.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Construction Managers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 34.9 | 31.6 |
VIC | 24.9 | 25.6 |
QLD | 19.7 | 20.0 |
SA | 5.6 | 7.0 |
WA | 9.5 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.5 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.2 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.8 | 1.9 |
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Around 62% of Construction Managers live in capital cities, similar to the all jobs average of 62%.
New South Wales has a large share of employment relative to its population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Sydney - Inner South West
- Sydney - Northern Beaches
- Sydney - Parramatta
- Sydney - Sutherland
- Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby.
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
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The median age of Construction Managers is 44 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 35 to 44 years.
Females make up 7% of the workforce. This is 41 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 | Construction Managers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.9 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 4.1 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 20.5 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 27.1 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 25.6 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 10.2 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 6.8 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 4.8 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 44 | 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 building or construction management or have a trade background is usually needed to work as a Construction Manager. 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)
Type of Qualification | Construction Managers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 5.5 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 19.6 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 13.8 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 45.4 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 8.3 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 2.0 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 5.4 | 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 Construction Managers who are organised, with strong people skills and an enthusiastic, positive attitude.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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61%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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59%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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57%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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57%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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57%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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57%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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57%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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57%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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57%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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57%
Management of financial resourcesFiguring out how money is needed to do something, and keeping track of the money that's being spent.
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57%
Management of material resourcesProviding the right equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do work.
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57%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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57%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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55%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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55%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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55%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
-
55%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
-
55%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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54%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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52%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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89%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
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75%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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72%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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67%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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67%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
65%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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63%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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59%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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59%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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59%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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55%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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52%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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50%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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48%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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47%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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47%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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45%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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45%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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35%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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28%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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57%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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57%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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57%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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57%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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57%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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57%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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57%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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57%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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57%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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57%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
-
55%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
-
54%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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54%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
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52%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
-
52%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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52%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
-
50%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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50%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
-
46%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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45%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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83%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
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83%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
-
82%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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79%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
-
73%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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73%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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73%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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72%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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71%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
69%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
69%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
66%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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65%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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65%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
63%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
-
61%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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59%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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58%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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55%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
51%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process 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%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
81%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
67%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
29%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
29%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
19%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
-
83%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
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.
-
76%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
76%
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.
-
71%
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.
-
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.
Demands
-
100%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
-
99%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
94%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
93%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
90%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
80%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
80%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
80%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
78%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
78%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
-
78%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
77%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
76%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
75%
Conflict situationsDeal with conflict or disagreements.
-
74%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
-
74%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
-
73%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
73%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
-
70%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
69%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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, 11-9021.00 - Construction Managers.
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
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Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.