Industry training monograph

Construction
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AUSTRALIAN
NATIONAL TRAINING
AUTHORITY
NCVER

Industry training
monograph

Construction

1998
0©Australian
Australian National
National Training Authority
This work has been produced by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research
(NCVER) with the assistance of funding provided by the Australian National Training Authority
(ANTA). It is published by NCVER under licence from ANTA. Apart from any use permitted
under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this publication may be reported by any process
without the written permission of NCVER Ltd. Requests should be made in writing to NCVER
Ltd.
The views and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author/project
author /projectteam
teamand
anddo
do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian National Training Authority.

ISBN 0 87397 481 6

TD/TNC 55.16

Published by
NCVER Ltd
252 Kensington Road
Australia 5068
Leabrook, South Australia 5068

°nerdy
Quality
Endorsed
Endorsed
canners/
Ccenpany
Maxie Ask.
 Preface
THECONSTRUCTION
CONSTRUCTIONINDUSTRY
INDUSTRYtraining
trainingmonograph
monograph is
is one
one of
of a series of monographs
monographs
which has been designed to provide readers with an overview of occupational
THEtrends and the current training effort in each industry in Australia.
The monograph analyses data at the major Australian and New Zealand Standard
Industry Classification (ANZSIC) industry division level, given that it is at this level
most data are collected and disseminated. The monograph addresses:
4 recent employment trends
6 recent occupational trends in key skills areas
4. current training arrangements, particularly training levels and outputs
The monographs bring together for the first time a range of survey data from the
Australian
Australian Btu-eau of Statistics
Bureau of Statistics (ABS), together with graduate destination, employer
employer
satisfaction with training and other training data compiled for the Australian National
Training Authority (ANTA) by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research
(NCVER).
( NCVER).
I would like to thank Tom Dumbrell for preparing these monographs and I would
also like to acknowledge John Ray's contribution to the
the analysis
analysis of
of employment
employment and
and
occupation data.
iii
UI
NCVER acicnowledges
acknowledges ANTA's
ANTA's significant contribution to the cost of this
monograph in sponsoring its publication.
I hope that the material in this publication will be of interest to Australia's
vocational, education and training (VET) sector. In particular the document is designed
for industry decision
decision-makers, policy-makers,
makers, policy- makers, teachers and trainers, researchers
researchers and
and
students with an interest in VET.
Readers who are interested in more information about training markets or other
areas of VET research are referred to the NCVER's research database, VOCED. Printed
and diskette versions of VOCED can be obtained from NCVER (ph +61 8 8333 8400) or
it can be accessed directly on the world wide web at the following address:
<http:11www.ncveredu.aulvoced.htm>
< http: / /www.ncver.edu.au /voced .h tm>

Chris Robinson, National Centre for Vocational Education and Research Ltd

Preface
 Contents
The construction industry in Australia 11

Overview 1

An industry snapshot 2

Occupational composition 5
Qualifications profile 7

Occupational trends and skills

shills shortages 7

Hours of work and earnings 10

Geographical distribution of construction employment 10

Training in construction 11
1_1

Employer satisfaction with VET 12

VET graduates in construction 12

Employment outcomes 14

Apprenticeships in construction 14

Employer support for training 15

Some training issues in construction 15

Appendix 17

Contents
 INDUSTRY TRAININ
INDUSTRY TRAINING MONOGRAPH NO.
G MONOGRAPH NO.55

Tie construction
The construction industry
in Australia
Overview
THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY in Australia employs nearly 600 000 persons
accounting for over 7% of total employment.' The industry is comprised of
THE housing construction, other non-dwelling
non dwelling building, and engineering
construction, such as roads, and land sub-division
sub -division and telecommunications rollouts.
The industry is heavily dominated
dominated by
by male,
male, full
full-time
-time employment, with males
making up nearly 88% of the
the workforce
workforce and
and full
full-time
-time work accounting for 86% of the
total jobs.
Employment in the industry tends to be cyclical and there are different economic
factors that operate on the sub-sectors
sub sectors of the industry. This means that, at times, some
parts of the industry are in recession while others are growing. The non-residential
non- residential and
engineering construction sub-sectors
sub sectors have been growing over the last three years,
while the housing sector has
has recovered
recovered from
from aa slump
slump from
from about
aboutmid
mid-1997
-1997 onwards.
Over the last decade or so, the industry has seen two peaks in employment in the
late 1980s and in the mid 1990s. Employment declined in the early 1990s and began a
recovery from about 1993. Chart 5.1 shows the levels of employment in the industry as
at November over the last 12 years.
Only about two-thirds
two thirds of the workers in the construction industry are classified as
employees, whereas about 85% of all workers are in this category. This reflects the sub-
contracting nature of much work in the industry. This characteristic, combined with
the often short duration and uncertain nature of employment, contributes to the
industry's relatively poor performance in the provision of industry-based structured
training.
The occupational structure of the industry is very different from the workforce as a
whole. Whereas only about 13% of all workers are classified in the trades group, in

' Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Labour force, Australia, cat.6203.0, November 1997

The construction industry in Australia

construction half the workforce are tradespersons. This highlights both the great
dependency of the industry on the vocational education and training (VET) sector in
general and its specific reliance on structured apprenticeship training in particular for
its supply of skills.
While immigration has contributed to the supply of skills in this industry, overseas-
overseas
born workers are no more numerous in the construction industry than they are in the
workforce overall, making up about 24% of both. The construction workforce is more
concentrated in the middle
middle-age
-age groups
groups than
than the total workforce. In other words, it
employs both slightly
slightly fewer
fewer under
under-25 and slightly
-25 year olds and slightly fewer
fewerover
over-45 olds
-45 year olds
than are found in the total workforce.
The qualifications profile of the industry reflects its high trades content. However,
there are fewer workers with formal trade qualifications than there are workers in the
trades category, indicating that there are substantial numbers of workers lacking
formal qualifications in the trades area. Some of these workers could have received
formal trades recognition without receiving an educational credential.
The 1996 Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) training expenditure survey found
that employers in construction provided much less structured training to their
employees than the average employer, spending only about $100 per employee in the
all industry average of $185.
survey period, July to September 1996, compared with the all-industry
Employers in the industry are generally very satisfied with the provision of VET,
giving one of the highest ratings of all industries in the survey on employer satisfaction
with VET for 1997 (ESS), compiled by the National Centre for Vocational Education
Research (NCVER). Similarly, technical and further education (TAFE) graduates
surveyed in the TAFE graduate destination survey 1997 (GDS), also compiled by
NCVER, who were working in the construction industry rated most aspects of their
course at a higher level than did graduates in general. Graduates working in the
industry gave their TAFE course the highest rating of all graduates for its relevance to
their work.
Graduates who had undertaken a course of study in the architecture and building
field gained material benefits from their course. Over 40% believed that their course
had led to an increase in earnings and over 20% said it had led to a promotion.

An industry snapshot
The construction industry in Australia can be divided into the residential and non-
residential building sectors, and engineering construction. These sectors tend to be
driven by different economic factors and hence do not always follow the same
economic cycles. In 1996
1996-1997
-1997 the
the value
value of work done in these three sectors was:
residential $15
$15 564 million
4. non-residential
non- residential building
building $12 689 million
$12
i engineering construction $15
$15 215 million

Industry training monograph

Chart 5.1: Employment in
Employment in construction,
construction,Australia,
Australia,1985
1985-1997, bysub
-1997, by sub-division (ABS
- division (ABS
labour force survey)
700

600

500

0
0
0 e Construction
op Construction(411 -425)
(411-425)
400
E
,-- --General
General

-. '\
g. construction1411
construction (41)
LS
300 4,-- Construction
Constructiontrade
trade
services (42)

200 ry .. _f/ ~'4

_.--,
AI,
-*-.. /.
100

o
o
co N C) Q
LO
ao
CO m
CO
>
co
co
CO
co iá
co °m m m
Ó'.1) m a co
T
co
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o
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zZ zZ Z
ó
o
Z
ó
8 ó
o>
Z
8
ó
zZ ó
8
z
Z z8ó 8
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z z8ó 8
ó
zZ ó
8
zZ 8
Z

Source: ABS, Labour

Labour force,
force, Australia,
Australia, cat.6203.0, 1985 -1997
cat.6203.0,1985-1997
Within the residential sector the major component of activity was in the
construction of new houses, which accounted for about 59.5% of all residential work,
while other residential buildings accounted for 24.0% and alterations and additions
worth more than $10 000 made
made up
up the
the remaining
remaining 16.5
16.5%.
%. The housing sector even has a
small part in the
the export
export market.
market.In
In1995
1995-1996 pre-fabricated
-1996 pre- fabricated buildings worth over
over $29
$29
million were exported from Australia.
Over the three years to 1996 -1997 the
1996-1997 the value
value of housing construction activity fell
away by over 2020%.
%. However,
However, there
there has
has been
been a recovery in the housing construction
sector since early 1997, assisted by low interest rates and greater competition among
lenders. The latest national data on the number of dwelling approvals (for January
1998) show a trend increase of 15.6% over the corresponding period in the previous
year. Further growth is expected during 1998. To quote the Reserve Bank:
The
The reduction in home-loan
home -loaninterest
interest ratesdue
rates dueboth
bothtotodeclines
declinesininofficial
officialinterest
interestrates
ratesand
andaa
narrowing of margins in thethe home
home-loan
-loan market as competition intensified
intensifiedhas
has driven
driven housing
housing
affordability to its current extremely high level, and has underpinned the gradual expansion in
dwelling investment.
investment. That
Thatthis
thispick
pick-up has not
-up has not been
been stronger
strongerisisdue
duetotothe
thehigher-
higher-than-usual
than -usual
excess supply of dwellings in the outer suburbs of most capital cities and in regional Australia.'

2 Reserve Bank of
of Australia,
Australia, Bulletin,
Bulletin, February
February1998
1998

The construction
construction industry
industry in
in Australia
Australia
 non -residential building
In the non-residential building sector
sector the
the main
main areas
areas of
of activity
activityinin1996 -1997 were
1996-1997
in shops (16.7
(16.7%),
%), offices
offices (14.7%),
(14.7 %),other
other business
business premises
premises (13.9%),
(13.9 %),andand in
in entertainment
entertainment
and recreational buildings (12.6
(12.6%).
%). Other
Other important areas in non-residential building
non residential building
were educational
educational buildings
buildings (10.8 %), factories (9.7
(10.8%), %), and hotels (7.9%).
(9.7%), (7.9 %). The
The non-
non-
residential and engineering construction sectors have shown growth in activity over
the last three years (to 1996
1996-1997)
-1997) of
of 25.5%
25.5% and 13.2% respectively and growth in these
sectors appears to be continuing quite strongly although there are mixed signals
Non -residential construction activity is expected to continue
coming from the market. Non-residential
to grow throughout the rest of 1998.
construction, roads,
In engineering construction, roads, highways
highways and
and land
land sub-division
sub division made
made up up the
the
(29.8%),
major component (29.8 %), with
with telecommunications
telecommunications (18.3%),
(18.3 %),heavy
heavyindustry
industry (16.3%),
(16.3%),
and electricity generation, transmission and distribution (9.9%)
(9.9 %)also
alsoprorruinent.
prominent. InIn
1996 -1997,62.6%
1996-1997, 62.6%of ofthe
theengineering
engineeringconstruction
constructionactivity
activitywas
wasundertaken
undertakenononbehalf
behalfof of
the public sector. A considerable stock of unfinished work currently exists in the
engineering construction sector in mining and road construction.'
In November 1997 there were 597 100 persons estimated to be employed in the
construction industry, accounting for just over 7% of the total Australian employed
labour force. Employment in this sector is cyclical, in response to a range of factors,
especially interest rates, housing affordability and large infrastructure projects.
In November 1997 the almost 600 000 persons employed in the industry were
divided into the two sub-divisions
sub divisions of general construction
construction and
and construction
construction trade
trade
services employing, respectively, 224 200 and 373 000 persons. Employment in these
sub divisions has tended to follow similar cyclical patterns over the last decade, as is
sub-divisions
shown in chart 5.1. Employment in construction trade services has risen over the last
decade by about 5.2% and in general construction by 6.4% but, as the chart shows,
there has been considerable fluctuation in the industry's employment level.
Employment in the industry is, however, below the high point for the last decade,
which occurred in early 1990 at almost 620 000.
Employment in the construction industry is usually full time. Only 13.7% of jobs in
4 the industry are part time, and only 12.4% of the industry's workforce are females. This
makes the industry the second
second most
most male-
male-dominated
dominated sector after mining, with only
females.
11% of its workforce females.
Only 65% of the workers in the industry are classified as employees, compared with
nearly 85% of the total workforce. Nearly 27% of the construction industry workforce
is classified as 'own-account
'own account workers' and the remaining 7% is employers. This reflects
the sub-contracting
sub contracting practices in the industry and the the small
small business
business structure
structure that
that
dominate the industry. There are more businesses classified to the construction sector
in Australia than to any other
other industry.
industry. In
In 1994
1994-1995
-1995 there were 151 500 businesses
classified in the construction sector, of which 149 700 were small businesses.
16.4% of
Construction accounted for 16..4% of all
all businesses in Australia at that time. The second
largest category, with 138 700 businesses, was in retailing.

3 Reserve Bank of Australia, Bulletin, February 1998

3

Industry training monograph

Table
Table 5.1:
5.1: Employment ('000s) in construction by sub
sub-division, by gender
division, by gender and
and type
type of
of
employment, Australia, November 1997

Industry sub-division
Industry sub - division Males Females Full-time
Full -time Part-time Total
General construction
construction 197.7 26.5
26.5 201.2 23.0 224.2 1

Building construction 140.9

140.9 19.0 141.2 18.7 159.9
Non-building construction 56.8 7.5
7.5 60.0 4.3 64.3 j

Construction trade services 325.4 47.6

47.6 314.2 58.7 373.0
Site
Site preparation
preparation services
services 26.8 5.2 27.7 4.3 32.0
Building structure services 48.6 4.9 46.0 7.5 53.5
Installation trade services 127.3 22.0 125.2 24.1 149.3
Building completion services 93.6 11.3 89.6 15.3 104.9
Other construction
pther construction services 29.1 4.2 25.7 7.5 33.3 7
Total 523.0 74.1 515.4 81.7 597.1
Source: ABS,
Source: ABS, Labour
Labour force,
force, Australia,
Australia, cat.6203.0,
cat.6203.0, November
November 1997
1997
The age of workers in the construction industry quite closely matches the overall
workforce, with slightly fewer
fewer in
in the
the under
under-25
-25 age group and also slightly fewer in the
over-45
over -45age
agegroup.
group. The
The proportion
proportion of overseas-born
overseas -born workers
workers in
in the
the industry also very
closely matches the overall
overall workforce
workforce at
at about
about24
24%.
%.

Occupational composition
The occupational profile of the construction industry is unique in that over half the
workforce is classified as tradespersons, over 99% of whom are male. The industry has
both a lower-
lower-than-average
than average proportion of professionals and associate professionals,
professionals, and
and
of clerical
clerical/sales/service
/sales /service workers.
workers.

Table 5.2: Occupational profile construction and total workforce, Australia,

Australia,
November 1997
Occupation
Occupation group Construction % Total workforce %
Managers and administrators 7.6 7.6 1
1

Professionals
Professionals 2.5 17.4
Associate professionals
lAssociate professionals 5.5 10.5
Tradespersons and
and related
'Advanced clerical
Advanced
related
clerical and service
Intermediate clerical/sales/service
Intermediate clerical /sales /service
50.2
5.7
5.8
13.2
4.5
17.1
]
Intermediate production/transport
Intermediate production /transport 9.4 9.2 1

Elementary clerical/sales/service
Elementary clerical /sales/service 1.1 10.5
Labourers
Labourers and related 12.1 10.1
Total 100.0 100.0
Source: ABS, Labour force, Australia, cat.6203.0, November 1997
The industry also has a large number of trades occupations that are heavily
concentrated in the industry, as is shown in table 5.3 with the industry accounting for
at least 75% of employment in eight separate trades occupations.

The construction industry in Australia

Table 5.3: Major trades employment in construction, Australia, 1996
Trade occupation No. in construction, % share of total
('000s) occupation
occupation
Metal fitters/machinists 4.3 4.2 _J
Structural steel
steel/welders
/welders 7.0 10.3
Refrigeration and air-conditioning
air conditioning
mechanics
'mechanics 5.2 46.0
46.0
Electrical mechanics 47.0
47.0 57.3
Carpenters and joiners 75.2 76.2
Bricklayers
FI-3-ricklayers 27.6 97.9
97.9 J
Painters, decorators, signwriters 31.9 75.6
Plasterers
[Plasterers 18.0
18.0 93.3
Plumbers 40.5 84.7
Roof slaters and tilers
tilers 5.5 98.2 7
Wall and floor tilers
Gardeners
Floor coverers
8.5
11.1
5.8
95.5
24.5
86.6
i
;6-lass tradespersons
Glass tradespersons 35*
3.5* 43.2
43.2

Note: *Subject to sampling variability too high for most practical uses
Source: ABS, Labour force, Australia, cat.6203.0, 1996

Table 5.4: Major non -trade occupations

non-trade occupations in
in construction,
construction, Australia, 1996
Occupation No. in construction, % share of total
('000s) occupation
occupation
Managing supervisors
TvTanaging supervisors(other
(otherbusiness)
business) 40.0
40.0 32.6 f

Civil engineers 4.0 15.0

Accountants
'Accountants 7.9 7.4
Computing professionals 10.1 9.0
Building, architectural and surveying
assoc/technicians 10.2
10.2 47.0
Office secretaries 12.4
12.4 6.1
rAccounting
!Accounting clerks 50.1 10.4
Receptionists /info clerks
Receptionists/info 3.8 1.9
1.9
Truck drivers 12.6
12.6 6.3 1

Earthmoving plant operators 24.0 44.4

Trades assistants 10.8 28.7 1

Installation workers 5.7 55.9

Concrete workers 17.8
17.8 81.3
Structural steel and related construction
labourers 4.2 53.8
paving/surfacing labourers 5.4 40.9
Construction labourers 24.6 74.3
Other labourers 6.2 9.9 1

Source: ABS, Labour force, Australia, cat.6203.0, 1996

monograph
Industry training monograph
 The main individual occupations in construction are shown in tables 5.3 and 5.4.
The first provides details of trades employment in the industry and the second covers
other main occupations.

Qualifications profile
The qualifications profile of the construction industry reflects its occupational
structure, with relatively few workers in construction possessing a university
credential and the largest category of qualification being skilled vocational. This
directly corresponds with the large group of tradespersons in the industry.
It is also worthy of note that a relatively small number of workers in the
construction industry, 42
42%,
%, lack
lack aa post-school with the
post school qualification, compared with the total
total
49.4 %.Around
workforce's 49.4%. Aroundhalf
halfofofthe
theindustry's
industry'sworkforce,
workforce,therefore,
therefore,isisdependent
dependent
upon the VET sector for their training.
There is, however, a sizeable
sizeable gap
gap between
between the
the number
number of
of tradespersons
tradespersonsin inthe
the
industry, about 300 000, and the number of workers possessing a formal skilled
vocational qualification, about 218 000. This shows that there is a substantial body of
trades -levelworkers
trades-level workersininthe
theindustry
industrylacking
lackingaaformal
formalqualification.
qualification.ItItisispossible
possiblethat
that
some of these workers have received recognition for their level of skill but have not
obtained a TAFE trade certificate.
1996 Census data reproduced in tables A5.5 and A5.6 in the appendix show that
about one third of those working as tradespersons in the industry lack formal
qualifications. A similar proportion of those classified as managers and administrators
also lack formal qualifications according to the 1996 Census data in those tables. As
well, about 30% of those classified in the professional and associate professional
occupations in construction lack formal qualifications according to the same data.
Table 5.5: Qualifications of construction workers, percentage
percentage distribution,
distribution, Australia,
Australia,
May 1997
May
Bachelor's
Bachelor's Diploma/ Skilled Basic Without 7
degree or associate
associate vocational vocational post-school
post - school
higher diploma
diploma qualification qualification qualification
onstruction 5.0 6.2
6.2 38.5 8.1 42.0 ;
1

Total industry 17.2 9.0 12.6 9.4 49.4

Source: ABS, Transition from education to work, cat.6227.0, May 1997

Occupational trends and skills shortages

As noted earlier, the construction industry is characterised by slow underlying trend
growth in employment upon which is superimposed cyclical swings in its
employment, as shown in chart 5.1. Over the decade to 1996, employment in the
industry rose by almost 100 000 or by 19%.
19 %.ItItshould
shouldbe bekept
keptin
inmind
mindthat
thatto
tosome
some
extent the occupational composition of the industry at any point in time will be
of their
influenced by at what stage of their own
own cycle
cycle are
are the
the component
componentsub-sectors
sub sectors of
of the
the
indutry.
industry.
The construction industry in Australia
 The main occupations in the industry did not, therefore, all follow the same growth
pattern over the decade, with some exceeding the overall industry growth rate and
others growing more slowly, while several actually declined in absolute terms. Tables
5.6 and 5.7 show the main occupational trends over the last decade according to these
different growth trends.
Table 5.6: Construction
Construction industry occupations showing above
above-trend
-trend growth,
growth, Australia,
1987-1996
1987 -1996
Occupation Employment 1996 ('000s) growth 1987
% growth 1987-1996
-1996
Managing supervisors
!Managing supervisors 40.0 74
Refrigeration and air
air-con.
-con. mechanics
mechanics 5.2 27
Electrical mechanics 47.0 50 i
Plasterers 18.0 29
Roof slaters and tilers 5.5
5.5 31
Gardeners 11.1 85
Floor coverers 5.8
5.8 45
45
Glass tradespersons 3.5*
3.5* 600
/Accounting
Accounting clerks 50.1 35
Truck drivers 12.6 47
Earthmoving plant operators 24.0 36
Trades assistants 10.8 24
Labourers
,Labourers 6.2
6.2 100
Note: *Subject to sampling variability too high for most practical uses
Source: ABS, Labour
Labour force,
force, Australia,
Australia, cat.6203.0,
cat.6203.0,1987
1987-1996
-1996
Shortages of skills tend to occur in the construction industry as a result of its
cyclical nature and through geographical variations in activity, especially in the
engineering construction sector. The industry is characterised by frequent movement
of workers into and out of the industry, depending upon the level of labour demand.
In the 1997 ESS, most employers
employers (67.3
(67.3%)
%) in the construction industry replying to the
survey did not believe, at that time (July 1997), there were shortages of VET graduates
to meet their needs. Of the 29% who did identify skill shortages, predictably 81% said
there were shortages of tradespersons. No further details as to the type of trades in
shortage were gathered.
Preparation for the Olympic Games has seen construction activity at a high level in
Sydney. Over the period 19971997-2001
-2001 itit is
is expected that there will be about $10 billion
worth of building and construction work in the Sydney region, with about $3 billion of
this directly related to the games.
games. This
This activity
activity will
will peak
peak in
in the
the1998
1998-1999
-1999 year. Possible
targetted by
skill shortages have been targetted by specific
specific initiatives
initiatives including
includingAustralian
AustralianNational
National
Training Authority (ANTA)- funded skill
(ANTA)-funded skill centres.

Industry training monograph

monograph
Table 5.7: industry occupations
Construction industry occupations showing below
below-trend
-trend or
or negative growth,
Australia, 1987
Australia, -1996
1987-1996
Occupation Employment
Employment 1996
1996 ('000s)
('000s) % growth 1987 -1996
1987-1996
ivilengineers
Çivil engineers 4.0 18
Building, architectural and
Building, architectural and surveying
ass/technicians
ass /technicians 10.2 6
!Metal fitters
!Metal fitters and
and machinists
machinists 4.3 0
Structural steel
Structural steel/welding tradespersons
/welding tradespersons 7.0
7.0 15
!Carpenters
Carpenters and joiners 75.2 4 ,

Bricklayers 27.6 ' 8

'Painters/decorators/
'Painters /decorators/ signwriters
signwriters 31.9 7
Plumbers 40.5 13
!Walland
Wall and floor
floor tilers 8.5 18 ,

Office secretaries
Office secretaries 12.4 19
!Receptionists and
[Receptionists and info
info clerks 3.8 0
Concrete workers 17.8 17
Structural steel labourers 4.2 34
Paving/surfacing labourers
Paving/surfacing labourers 5.4 16
,Other construction labourers
;Other 24.6
24.6 9
Source: ABS,
Source: ABS,Labour
Labour force,
force, Australia, cat.6203.0,1987
Australia, cat.6203.0, 1987-1996
-1996
The national industry training advisory board (ITAB), Construction Training
Australia, reported to ANTA in 1997 that:
.... .across
. acrossthe
theStates
Statesand
and Territories,
Territories, painters
painters were
were shown
shown to be in the shortest supply (in six),
with bricklayers, roof tilers and wall and floor tilers next (in five), and concrete workers,
excavations and plant moving operators, plasterers (in four).
A recent report by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI),
Northern Australia skills shortages report, found widespread shortages of construction
industry skills
skills across
across northern
northernAustralia
Australia.4
.4
The Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DEETYA)
skilled vacancy survey showed, for the year to February 1998, a very strong rise across
Australia in demand for skilled workers in the building and construction sector. Over
construction trades
that period, vacancies for construction trades workers
workers rose
rose by
by97%
97% nationally, as
against an across
across-the-board
the -board rise of 11.4% for all vacancies. On an indexed
indexed basis
basis the
the
construction trades vacancies index stood at 111.4 in February 1998, the highest level
over the last two years and well above the level of just 42.1 two years previously.
Over the same period, however, vacancies for building and engineering
professionals declined by 16% and vacancies for building and engineering associates/
technicians declined
technicians declinedby
by6.2
6.2%.
%.

4° Australian
Australian Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Northern
Northern Australia
Australia skills
skills shortages
shortages report,
report,
<www.acci.asn.au/>
<www.acci.asn.au />

The construction industry

industry in Australia
 Hours of work and earnings
The following table shows the pattern of employment in the industry by hours worked
by sex. It highlights the strong male dominance of the industry and the low level of
part-time
part -time employment
employment in the industry.
Table 5.8: Construction employment, by sex and hours worked, Australia, November 1997
Full -time ('000s)
Full-time Part-time ('000s) Total ('000s)
No. % No. % No.
No.
Males
'Males 489.4
489.4 95.0 33.6 41.1
41.1 523.0 87.6
Females 26.0 5.0 48.1 58.9 74.1 12.4
Total 515.4
5_15.4 100.0 81.7 100.0 59711
597 - 100.0 1

Source: ABS Labour force, Australia,

Australia, cat.6203.0,
cat.6203.0, November 1997
1997
In May 1996 adult weekly full full-time
-time earnings
earnings for non-managerial in
non managerial workers in
$732, well
construction averaged $732, well above
above the
the all-
all-industry
industry average earnings of $683. Male
earnings in this category were $745 and female earnings were $605. Female earnings
were, in fact, at
at the
the all-
all-industry
industry average at that time.
time.
non-managerial
Remarkably, managerial earnings in the industry were below the non-managerial
level, although this figure seems influenced by a very low level of earnings for females
in this category, possibly influenced by the ownership structure prevalent in the
industry of numerous small enterprises. Labour costs in the industry in 1993-1994
1993 -1994atat
$35 357 per employee were about $1600 above average.

Geographical distribution of construction

employment
Most employment in the construction industry is found in New South Wales, Victoria
and Queensland although, as is shown in table 5.10, employment is not distributed in
the same proportion across the States and Territories as total employment.
10
Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory have
an above-average
above average share of jobs in this sector, while Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania
and the Australian Capital Territory
Territory have
have aa lower-
lower-than-average This pattern
than average share. This pattern .

reflects the broader demographic factors, including population growth and migration
movements, that stimulate demand in the construction sector.
Table 5.9: Employment ('000s) in construction by State/Territory, 1995

NSW Vic Qld SA WA Tas NT ACT

Males
'Males
Females
Total
Note:
Note:
Source:
180.8
28.7
209.5
14.2
127.0
112.8 107.2
18.4
18.4
125.6
variabilitytoo
*Subject to sampling variability
Source: ABS, Labourforce,
ABS, Labour force, Australia,
toohigh
30.3
5.6
35.9
formost
highfor
Australia,cat.6204.0,
cat.6204.0, 1995
1995
57.7
10.7
68.5
mostpractical
practicaluses
uses
9.7
1.9*
11.6
6.0
0.5*
6.6
8.7
1.8*
10.6 -
Industry training
training monograph
Table 5.10: Share of employment in construction by State, by share of total jobs, 1995

State
State share
Construction % share %
% employed
employed in
in all
all industries
industries
NSW
NSW 352
35 2 331
33 1
Vic 21.3 24.7
1Id
Qld 21.11 18.3
SA 6.0 8.0
jWA
iWA 11.5 10.1
Tas 1.9 2.4
NT 1.1 1.0
1.0
ACT 1.8 2.0
Total /00.0
100.0 100.0
Source: ABS, Labour force, Australia, cat.6204.0, 1995

Employment in
4. Employment in construction
construction makes
makes up 7% of total jobs
in Australia.
construction industry
O The construction industryisisnnale
male dominated and
provides relatively few part-time jobs.
+ Employment
Employment isis characterised
characterised by a high
high proportion of
of
'own-account'
'own- workers, with
account' workers, with only about
about two-
two-thirds
thirds of
workers in
in the
the industry
industry classified
classifiedas
as employees.
employees.
+ The
The occupational composition of the workforce is
exceptional in that half of all
all workers
workers in
in the
the industry
industry are
classified as
classified as tradespersons.
tradespersons.
Whilemost
O While most employers
employers inin the
the 1997
1997 ESS
ESS did not believe
there were
were skill shortages in
skill shortages in this
this industry, a recent
recent ACCI
ACCI
survey found
found widespread
widespread shortages
shortages across northern
Australia.
Australia.
>e The DEETYA
The DEETYAskilled
skilledvacancy
vacancysurvey
surveyreveals
reveals aa rapid rise
in demand for skilled
skilled construction
construction workers
workers over
over the
the last
year. 11

Training in construction
Government funded training
Government-funded training for building
building andand construction largely
largely falls
falls under
under thethe
ANTA-defined training area of the same
ANTA- defined training area of the same name. name. In 1995, 8.1% of government training
government training
activity occurred in this area.
activity occurred area. InIn using
using this
this figure
figure it should be be kept
kept in
in mind
mind that
that only
only
about 57% of total government-funded
government- funded training activitywas
training activity wasdesignated
designated to to aa specific
specific
industry- relatedarea.
industry-related area. The
The remaining
remaining 43% 43%waswas ininbroader
broader categories,
categories, such as as
computing,
computing, and and business
business and
and clerical,
clerical, which have relevance across
which have across all
all industry sectors,
including construction. In
including construction. In 1996
1996 thisthis allocation
allocation was
was expected
expected to decline slightly and in
slightly and in
1997 the
1997 the level
level was
was expected
expected to be about 7.6% (see (see table
table A5.1 appendix). For
A5.1 in the appendix). For 1995
1995
this meant that there
there were
were about
about38 38hours
hoursof ofgovernment - funded training
government-funded trainingprovided
provided per
per

The construction industry in Australia

 construction industry,
person employed in the construction industry, well
well above
above the
theall-
all-sector
sector average of 27
hours.
Enrolment statistics in VET identify those undertaldng
undertaking studies in construction areas
in two ways
waysbyby discipline
discipline group,
group, built
built environment,
environment, and by field of study, architecture
and building. For 1996 total annual hours of student enrolments in the field of study,
architecture and building, amounted to over 20 million hours, or 7.3% of total hours.'
Total annual hours of enrolments in the discipline group, built environrnent,
environment, amounted
hours.
to about 17.6 million hours.
The main enrolment category in the field of study, architecture and building, in
1996 was for trade
trade-level
-level courses,
courses, maldng
making up one-third
one -thirdofofall
allhours
hoursfor
forthis
thisfield
field of
of
study. The other major areas
areas of
of enrolment
enrolment were
were in
in operatives:
operatives:initial
initial16.7
16.7%,
%, para-
professional 9.7
9.7%,
%, and
and trades
trades (other)
(other) 9.3%.
9.3 %.Over
Over89%89%ofofthe
theenrolments
enrolmentswere
were byby male
male
students.
Module pass rates in the built environment discipline group are well above average
for all courses
courses at
at 72.4
72.4%,
%, compared with overall
overall pass
pass rates
rates of
of 60.5
60.5%.
%.

Employer satisfaction
Em.ployer satisfaction with VET
At the 1997 ESS 175 employers in the construction industry responded to the survey.
They gave the equal highest score on overall satisfaction with VET, scoring it a 7 out of
10. Two other industries, government administration and education, also scored VET 7
out of 10. Overall satisfaction with the TAFE part of VET was slightly lower on 6.9.
Employers in construction identified the highest priority for improvement in VET
to be the ability and experience
experience ofof teachers
teachers in
in the
the VET
VET system.
system.Almost
Almost20%20%identified
identified
this as the highest priority, the highest of all industry sectors on this criterion.
The highest level of satisfaction in the construction industry with VET was found in
Queensland, scoring 7.3, and the lowest was in the Northern Territory with 6.5.

VET graduates in construction

12 In the 1997 TAFE GDS there were 3172 graduates surveyed who were working in
construction at the time of the survey. This represented 7.4% of all graduates surveyed,
down from the 8.2% working in construction in the 1995 GDS, making construction the
fifth largest destination industry
industry for
for 1996
1996 graduates.
graduates.
As with employers in the construction industry, graduates were generally very
satisfied with their TAFE course in construction. They scored by far the highest rating
for overall relevance of their course to their industry, with 68.9% giving a 'highly
relevant' rating. The next highest rating went to health and community services with
61.5%.
61.5 %.

5 NCVER,
5 NCVER, Australian
Australian vocational
vocational education
education and
and training
training statistics
statistics 1996:
1996: In
In detail
detail

Industry training monograph

 Only 10.2% of the graduates working in construction rated their course of little or
no relevance, again the lowest
lowest non-relevant
non relevant rating of
of all
all industries.
industries.
In the survey, 3906 graduates, or 6.4% of those surveyed, had completed a course in
the architecture and building field of study. The largest category of surveyed graduates
with a qualification in the architecture and building field was of those with a trade
certificate who made up nearly half the sample. Other sizeable groups had completed
an associate diploma 13%,
13%, an
an advanced
advanced certificate
certificate 11.1
11.1%,
%, or a certificate (other) 10
10%.
%.
qualification in
Graduates with a qualification in architecture
architecture or
or building
building were
weremore
morelikely
likelyto
tobe
be
working full time than was the average graduate. Only 47% of all the graduates
surveyed were working full time, whereas 73% of those with an architecture or
building qualification were full- timers. In
full-timers. In fact, 15% of all graduates were unemployed
but only 9.5% of those with a qualification in the architecture or building field were
unemployed.
Most of the graduates from this field of study had undertaken their course for
vocational reasons, with only 10.8% having a non-vocational
non vocational motivation. Most did
their course either to get a job or because it was a requirement of their present job.
Only 13.5% of graduates from this field of study had had to geographically relocate in
order to undertake their course.
course.
Of the graduates who undertook their course in order to get a job, 78% said that
they had fully achieved their aim, while a further 10% had partly achieved it. The other
major motivation for undertaking the course, because it was a requirement of the job,
saw 82.5% achieving their objective fully, and a further 13.5% saying that they had
partly achieved their aim.
When asked to rate various aspects of their TAFE course, the graduates who were
working in the construction industry tended to give above-average
above average scores. Scoring was
done on a 1 to 10 basis, with 10 being the best. The following analysis looks at the
proportion of graduates giving a rating of 7 or more out of 10 for the various aspects of
their course.
TAFE graduates in the construction industry gave significantly above-average
above average ratings 13
for the following:
+ quality of equipment
availability of equipment for
for practice
practice
+ usefulness of the course for job prospects
.+ qualifications being well regarded by employers

The only area where graduates gave a significantly below-average

below average score was:
::course
coursecontent
contentreflecting
reflectingindustry
industrypractice
practice
All graduates gave a particularly low rating to the provision of information on
careers and jobs. However, the graduates working in construction gave an average
score of 41.3%.
41.3 %.ItItisisstrilcing
striking how consistently graduates across all industry sectors
expressed dissatisfaction with the provision of careers information. It is clearly the area
of VET provision most inadequately addressed as far as graduates are concerned.

The construction industry in Australia

 Employment ou-tcomes
Employment outcomes
In material terms graduates from the architecture and building field of study courses
appeared to benefit more than most graduates. Of those employed at the time of the
survey, 41.9% said they had received an increase in their earnings as a result of
completing their course, the highest proportion among all the fields of study. A further
24.1% had either found a job or changed jobs as a result of the course and 21.6% had
received a promotion.
Graduates working in the construction industry were more likely than the average
graduate to have already been working when they completed their course. In fact,
75.3% were working compared with 66.1% of all graduates, and the job they were in
was much more likely to have
have been
been their
their first
first full
full-time
-time job than the average graduate.
Graduates working full time in construction were earning on average $504 per
week, with males earning $505 and females $478. This gap between male and female
many other
earnings was less than in many other industries.
industries.

Apprenticeships in construction
Table A5.3 in the appendix shows apprenticeships in building and electrical trades as a
percentage of all apprenticeships. It shows considerable stability over the last 12 years.
The total number of apprentices in the industry and related fields has fluctuated
between about 40 000 and 53 000, in part reflecting the prevailing economic conditions
of the industry. There does not
not appear
appear to
to be
be much
much evidence
evidence of
ofaalong
long-term
-term reduction in
the use of apprenticeships in this industry, although table 5.11 shows a reduction over
the last three years.
Table A5.4 in the appendix shows the number of apprenticeships in the building,
electrical and horticulture trades over the last 12 years. It shows that there has been
considerable consistency in the overall number of apprenticeships in building and
related areas over that period.
/4
14 Table 5.11: No. of apprentices ('000s) by industry of employment, Australia, 1995-1997
1995 -1997
Industry 1995 1996
1996 1997
Manufacturing
Construction
35.2
35.2
26.3
26.3
30.5
27.5
27.5
25.2
23.2
J
[Wholesale/retail
[Wholesale /retail 3.0.5
3.0.5 28.3 35 3 I

Accommodation/cafés/restaurants
Accommodation /cafés/restaurants 5.7 8.8
8.8 13.7
'Cultural/recreation/personal
Cultural
Other
/recreation /personal services 8.0
13.5
10.6
20.6
7.8
15.9
J
Total 119.2 126.3 121.1
Source:
Source: ABS,
ABS,Transition
Transitionfrom
fromeducation
education to
to work, cat.6227.0, May
work, cat.6227.0, May 1997
1997
The above table is more specific in that it shows the number of apprenticeships
specifically designated as being in the construction sector and, as such, the numbers
are lower than in table A5.4. Table 5.11 shows that construction has been, over the last
industry employing
three years, the third major industry employing apprentices.
apprentices. Construction's
Construction'sshare
shareof
of

Industry training monograph

the total number of apprenticeships over the three -year period
three-year period has
has fallen from 22.9% in
1995 to 19.2% in 1997.

Employer support
Employer support for
for-training
training
In the 1997 GDS a moderately high 64.5% of graduates working in the construction
industry who had been working in the industry in their final semester of study
received some form of financial support from their employer, usually paid time off
work or payment of fees. Across all industries around 51% of graduates had some form
of financial support from their employer.
The ABS employer training expenditure survey of 1996 showed that construction
industry employers spent considerably less than the average employer on structured
training. They spent just over $100 per employee in the three-month
three -monthsurvey
surveyperiod,
period,
well below the all-industry
all industry average of $185 and well down on their level of
expenditure in the same 1993 survey, which saw per employee spending at $135.
Only 11.6% of employers in the industry provided structured training, again below
the all-
all-industry
industry average
average of
of 18%
18% and
and well
well below the 19% in the 1993 survey. Employers
in the non-building
non building part of construction spent far more
more than
than those
those in
in the
the building
building
sector $267 per
sector$267 per employee
employee against $67.
The ABS employer training practices survey of February 1997 obtained information
on training provision by industry over the previous 12 months, rather than the three- three-
month period covered in the training expenditure survey. The training practices survey
employer- provided structured
found a higher level of employer-provided structured training
training across
across the
the board.
board.
Construction was, however, still below average in that only 29% of employers
provided structured
structured training
training against
againstthe
theall-
all-industry average of
industry average of 35
35%. construction
%. The construction
industry's provision of unstructured
unstructured training
training was
was also
also below
below the
theall-
all-industry
industry average.

Some training issues in construction

3 steps can
What steps can be
be taken
takentotoincrease
increasethetheindustry's
industry'swell
well-below-average expenditure
- below- average expenditure
on structured training? The substantial drop in expenditure on structured training 15
by employers in the industry between 1993 and 1996 shows that at least in this
industry, the Training Guarantee had some significant impact.
:4While
Whileoverall
overallemployer
employersatisfaction
satisfactionwith
withVETVETprovision
provisionisishigh,
high,what
whatshould
should be
be
done to improve the level of satisfaction with the skills and experience of teachers?
4. What better processes can be instituted to monitor skills shortages in the industry?
o Are regional skill shortages able to be addressed by the VET sector or should
national training provision
provision aim
aim to
to maintain
maintain aa long
long-term
-term average level of output,
without trying to anticipate
anticipate short
short-term
-term fluctuations
fluctuations either regionally or more
broadly?
4i Should there be steps taken
taken toto reduce
reduce the
the number
number of of tradespersons
tradespersonsininthe
theindustry
industry
lacking formal educational qualifications?
b Why does the industry continue to be so strongly male dominated and should
government training policies aim to reduce this level of segregation?

The construction industry in Australia

 Construction Training Australia, the national ITAB, has raised the following five
industry training issues which are relevant to the industry or which require further
research and evaluation:
t the requirements of training package delivery
with access
et the need for quality staff with access to
to well
well-designed
- designedprofessional
professionaldevelopment
development
programs
the need for a major promotion and publicity campaign to help highlight initiatives
such as New Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships
et the need for research on the effects of technological change on skills development

16

Industry training monograph

Appendix
Appendix
 The following table is extracted from the ANTA resource allocations for 1997
their website.
document, available at their website. ItIt shows
shows the
the planned
planned allocations
allocationsof
ofgovernment-
government
funded training between the ANTA-
ANTA-defined
defined 'training areas' in terms of 'annual hours
curriculum' (AHC).
Table A5.1: Key national shifts in activity between 1996 revised estimates and 1997
projected activity(AHC
projected activity (AHC'OOOs)
'000s)
Industry training area
area 1996 1997 Total Total increase `)/0ofofoverall
% overall
revised projected
projected increase as %
as % of 1996 increase
revised
Category A
Arts, Entert,
'Arts, Sports &
Entert, Sports & Rec
Rec 11 408 11
11 928
928 520 4.6 5.5
Automotive 8 221 88 576
576 355 4.3 3.7
Fading
Buildingand
andConstruction
Construction 18 785 19 009 224 1.2 2.4
Comm Services, Health &
Finance,
Finance, Banking
Food Processing
& Ed
Banking & Insurance
Ed
Insurance
20 910
3 420
2 454
22 382
33 468
468
2 851
1 471
48
396
7.0
1.4
16.1
16.1
15.5
0.5
4.2
J
fltrárid-Furni-sliings
fTCF and Furnishings 5 714 5 813 100 1.7
1.7 1.0
1.0
Communications 1 883 1 963 80 4.3 0.8
Engineering and Mining
!Engineering 15 654 16 607 952 671 10.0 i

Primary Industry 11 874 12 217 343 2.9 3.6

Process Manufacturing
!Process 397 479 82 20.6 0.9
Sales and Personal Service 6 527 66 752
752 225 3.4 2.4
Tourism and Hospitality
!Tourism 16 707 18 151 1 444 8.6 15.2
Transport and Storage 1 686 1 851 164
164 9.8 1.7
!Utilities
¡Utilities 11 898 12
12 145
145 247 2.1 2.6
Category B
Business
Business and Clerical 42 412 43
43 117 705 1.7 7.4
Computing 11 969 12
12 641
641 672 5.6

JJ
7.1
Science, Té-c-h-r-iiEal
SEience, Technical and -Other
and-ather 6-727 6 870 143
143 2.1 13 I

Category C
18
18 Geñ Education and Training
p&FEElucation ing 40 046 41 212 1 166 2T9
2-:"9 12.3
Unallocated 622 779 157
157 25.2 1.6
Total
Total 239 31-6
239-31-6 248-810 9 494 4:0
4 :0 100:0
100 :0
Source: Publications, ANTA Resource Allocations 1997, <www.anta.gov.au>

training monograph
Industry training monograph
Table A5.2: Employed persons by occupation in the construction industry, 1987 and 1996
Change 1987 to 1996
Average
Occupation (ASCO 4-
4-digit)
digit) 1987 1996 annual
('000s) ('000s)
('000s) ('000s) %
601 Managing
'1601 Managing supervisors
supervisors (other
(other business)
business) 23.0 40.0 17.0
17.0 6.5 j
2209 Civil engineers 4.9
4.9 4.0 -0.9 -2.3
3207
!
207 Building architectural and surveying assoc/
technicians
4103 Metal fitters and machinists
9.6
4.3
10.2
4.3
4.3
0.6
0.0
0.7
0.0
J
¡ 205205Structural
41/ Structuralsteel
steelboilermaking/welding
boilermaking/welding
tradespersons 6.1 7.0 0.9 1.6
4307 Refrigeration and air-conditioning
air conditioning mechanics 4.1
4.1 5.2
5.2 1.1 2.8
mechanics
4309 Electrical mechanics 31.3 47.0 15.7
15.7 4.8
4401 Carpenters and joiners 72.6
72.6 75.2
75.2 2.6 0.4
4403 Bricklayers 25.6
25.6 27.6 2.0 0.9 1
4405 Painters decorators and signwriters 29.9 31.9 2.0 0.7
4407 Plasterers 14.0 18.0 4.0 2.9 1

4409 Plumbers 35.8

35.8 40.5 4.7 1.4
and tilers
4411 Roof slaters and tilers 4.2 5.5 1.3 3.1
4413 Wall and floor tilers 7.2 8.5 1.3 1.9
4805 Gardeners 6.0 11.1 5.1 7.3
4919 Floor coverers 4.0
4.0 5.8 1.8 4.3
4921 Glass tradespersons 0.5
0.5 3.5 3.0 24.9
5101 Office secretaries and stenographers 10.4 12.4 2.0 2.0
r-
T----
5301_ Accounting
Accou nti ng_cclerks
I erks 37
37 00 50 11
50 13.1 35
5601 Receptionists and
and information
information clerks
clerks 3.8 3.8 0.0 0.0
7105 Truck drivers 8.6 12.6 4.0 4.5 J
7201 Excavating and earthmoving plant operators 17.6 24.0
24.0 6.4 3.6
8101 Trades
'8101 Trades assistants
assistants 8.7 10.8 2.1 2.5
8401 Installation workers 12.1 5.7 -6.4 -8.2
8403 Concrete workers 15.2 17.8 2.6 1.8 19
8405 Structural steel and related construction
labourers 6.4 4.2
4.2 -2.2 -4.7
8409 Paving and surfacing labourers 6.4 5.4 -1.0 -1.9
8499 Other construction and mining labourers 22.5
22.5 24.6
24.6 2.1 1.0
8999 Other labourers and related workers
Other occupations
3.1
68.8
68.8
6.2
76.7
3.1
7.9
8.2
1.3
1.3
7
¡total
Total all
all occupations
occupations 503.7 599.6 95.9 2.0 1

Note: As estimates of less than 3500 are subject to high statistical error, they are listed against specific
occupations only where there was a higher estimate in either 1987 or 1996. Where estimates of
less than 3500 were recorded for both 1987 and 1996, they are included in the 'other
occupations' category
Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO)
Source: ABS, Labour force survey, unpublished data

The construction industry in Australia

 Table A5.3: Apprentices in training by occupation as percentage of total apprenticeships
building and electrical trades
Percentage of apprentices in training as percentage of total apprentices
1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1989 1990
1990 1991
1991 1992
1992 1993
1993 1994
1994 1995
1995 1996
1996 1997
1997
,Electrical 14.2 13.8 12.9 14.2 14.4 14.5 14.8
14.8 14.6 14.5 13.4 12.9 13.5 13.6
Building 17.0 17.5 18.2 18.9 20.0 20.3 20.3 20.1 19.4 20.7 21.5 20.8 19.7
20.8 19.7
Source: NCVER, unpublished data

20

training monograph
Industry training monograph
Table A5.4: Apprenticeships in building and related areas

1985 1986 1987 1988

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
1996 1997
1997
Electrical 18 316 18 035 17 923 20 917 21
21 859 23
23 342 22 382 20
20 921
921 17 821
821 16 533 15867
15 867 16748
16 748 16703
16 703
1!Electrical
Building 21
21 869 22 801
801 25 222 27 742
742 30 312 32 727
727 30 618 28
28 769
769 23 799 25
25 518 26 439 25 930 24 288
Horticulture na na na
na 3
3 243 3
3 375 3 527
3 527 3
3 477 3 398
3 3 357 3 511
511 3 408 3 395 2 948
Note: na not applicable
Source: NCVER, unpublished data

Table A5.5: Educational

Educational attainment
attainment of
of employed
employed persons
personsby
byindustry,
industry,occupation
occupation(1
(1-digit ASCO) and
-digit ASCO) type of post-school
and type post - schoolqualification
qualificationat
at1996
1996 Census
Census
Construction Bachelor Undergraduate Associate Skilled Basic
Basic With Inadequately Not Total
degree or diploma diploma vocational
vocational vocational qualifications
qualifications described or applicable
higher qualifications qualifications not stated (no quals.)
quais.)
ASCO code and occupation
1 Managers and Administrators
Administrators 4 303
303 1 763
1 763 2 727 22 138 1 460
1 32 391 4 301
301 14 437 51
51 129
129
2 Professionals 5 338
338 786 1
1 202 1 415
1 323 9 064 695 2
2 473 12
12 232
232
3 Associate Professionals 3
3 058 1
1 155
155 2 787 9 523 1
1 228 17 751
751 2 078 10 241
241 30 070 1

4 Tradespersons and Related Workers 1

1 764 1
1 413 3
3 178 142
142 649
649 2
2 715 151 719
151 14 116 71
71 613 237 448
5 Advanced Clerical and Service Workers 899
899 1
1 066 635 1
1 017 1 721
1 721 55 338 33 041
041 17048
17 048 25427
25 427
6 Intermediate Clerical, Sales and Service Workers 824 623 699 1
1 889 1 112
1 112 55 147 1
1 738 13
13 589 20
20 474
7 Intermediate Production and Transport Workers 280
280 243 296 8 838 1
1 585
585 11
11 242 3 114
114 31
31 077 45 433
433 1

8 Elementary Clerical, Sales and Service Workers 171 105 120

120 817 173 1
1 386 401 3 164
3 4 951
951

Labourers and Related Workers 614

614 408 507 8 326 819
819 10 674 33 254 36 566 50 494 J
0 Inadequately described 105 58 100
100 1
1 591 98 1
1 952 380 1
1 990 4 322
322
Not stated 33 31 23 478 39 - 604 357 1 144
1 144 2 105
2 1
Not applicable
Total 17 389 7 651 12 274 198
198 681
681 11 273
11 247 268 33 475 203 342
342 484 085 j

Source: ABS, 1996

1996 Census
Census of
of population
population and
and housing
housing
Table A5.6: Educational
Educational attainment
attainment of
of employed
employed persons
personsby
byindustry,
industry,occupation
occupation(3
(3-digit ASCO) and
-digit ASCO) and type
type of
of post
post-school
- schoolqualification
qualification at
at 1996
1996 Census
Census
Construction Bachelor Undergraduate Associate Skilled Basic With Inadequately
Inadequately Not Total
degree or diploma diploma vocational vocational qualifications described or applicable
higher qualifications qualifications not stated
not stated (no quals.)
quais.)
ASCO code and occupation
[00 Managers
[100 Managersand
andAdministrators
Administrators not
not further
further defined n1d452
nfd452 246
246 210
210 1 933 197 3 038 577 2 891 6 506 1

110 Generalist Managers nfd 14

14 3 0 23 4 44 5 19 68
r
f111 General Managers and Administrators
(111 465 139 143 802 70
70 1 619 170 747 2 536 1

119 Miscellaneous Generalist Managers 1

1 929 985 1 884 17 760 919 23 477 3 076 8 247 34 800
r
[120 Specialist
[1,20 Specialist Managers nfd 47 13 14 50 7 131 14
14 59 204
204
121 Resource Managers
121 Managers 474 108 131 284 83 1080 154 784 2 018
r
(122_Engineering, Distributionand
(122_Engineering,Distribution andProcess,Managers
Process,Managers 534 121 188 716 70 1629
1_629 130 7t6
716 2 475
123 Sales and Marketing Managers 199 86 76 314
314 53 728 106 535 1 369
t29 Miscellaneous
r-r-29 MiscellaneousSpecialist
Specialist Managers
Managers 175 44 59 143 36 457 38 159
159 654
654
131 Farmers and Farm Managers 14 19 21 113 21 188 31 280 499
200 Professionals nfd 44 7 15 32 7 105 9 45 159 1

210 Science, Building and Engineering Professionals nfd 0 3 0 o

0 0 3 0 0 3

)1 Natural
211 Naturaland
andPhysical
Physical Science
Science Professionals
Professionals 70 10 13 14 5 112 3 29 144
l
212
212 Building àñd Eñgineéring Professionals
Building a-rid-Engineering Professionals 3 730
3 436 593
593 639 91 5 489 304 802 6 595
1220 Business and Information Professionals nfd 6 4 o
0 4 3 17
17 o
0 11
11 28 i

221 Accountants, Auditors and Corporate Treasurers 679

679 95 284
284 39 42 1 139 130 397 1 666
r222 Sales, Marketing and Advertising Professionals 97 24 28 176 19 344 40 304 688
688 1

223 Computing Professionals 198 32 51 60 21 362 20 136 518

518
[229
L229Miscellaneous
MiscellaneousBusiness
Business and
and Information
Information Profs
Profs 243
243 64 115 210 68 700 62 374 1 136
230 Health Professionals nfd 0 0 o
0 o
0 o
0 o0 0
o 0
o 0
o

[231
231 Medical Practitioners 3 3 o
0 o
0 0 6 3 0
o 9 1

232 Nursing Professionals 17

17 25 0
o 3 5 50 12 12 74
ps Miscellaneous
j 238 MiscellaneousHealth
HealthProfessionals
Professionals 10
10 3 3 4 0 20 0 0 20
r
Construction Bachelor Undergraduate Associate Skilled Basic With Inadequately Not Total
degree
degree or diploma diploma vocational vocational qualifications described or applicable
higher qualifications qualifications not stated (no quals.)
goals.)

240 Education Professionals nfd o o

0 o o
0 o
0 0
o 0
o o o
Teachers
241 School Teachers 20 7 3 6 o0 36
36 3 12 51

242
242 University
University and
and Vocational
Vocational Education
Education Teachers
Teachers 3 o
0 o
0 11 3 17 4 ' 3 24 1

249 Miscellaneous Education Professionals 13 3 o

0 14 6 36 5 14 55
250
250 Social,
Social, Arts
Arts and
and Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous Professionals nfd 3 o
0 o
0 0
o o0 3 0
o 0
o 3 J
251 Social Welfare Professionals 10
10 5 3 9 3 30 3 24 57
52 Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous Social
Social Professionals
Professionals 53 4 5 6 o
0 68 3 16 87 1

253
253 Artists
Artists and
and Related
Related Professionals
Professionals 115 41 56 119 23 354 62
62 208 624
624
'254 Miscellaneous
254 Miscellaneous Professionals 25 22 30 67
67 30 174 35
35 83 2-----
292
9-2 1

300 Associate Professionals nfd 21 14

14 20 71 14 140 22 107
107 269
310
310 Science/Engineering
Science/Engineering and
and Related
Related Assoc
Assoc Profs
Profs nfd
nfd 8 6 51 37 8 110 5 35 150 1
311
311 Medical
Medical and
and Science
Science Technical
Technical Officers
Officers 21 o
0 28 30 14 93
93 19 128 240
312
312 Building/Engineering Professionals
Building/Engineering Associate Professionals 1 562 548
548 1 876 6 289 540 10 815 954 3 385 15 154 j
15 154 _._1

320 Business
320 Business and
and Administrative
Administrative Assoc
Assoc Profs
Profs nfd
nfd 3 o
0 0 3 3 9 o
0 12 21

,321Finance
321 Finance Associate
Associate Professionals
Professionals 34 6 15 9 9 73 ¿14
¿I 4 93 180 1
180 1
329
329 Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous Business/Admin
Business/Admin Assoc
Assoc Profs
Profs 1 251 466 662 1 908 522 4 809 799 44 951
951 10 559
330
330 Managing
Managing Supervisors
Supervisors (Sales
(Sales &
& Service)
Service) nfd
nfd 0
o 0
o o
0 5 o
0 55 33 3 11

331 Shop Managers 31 20 17 208 29 305 52

52 424 781
332
332 Hospitality
Hospitality &
& Accommodation
Accommodation Managers
Managers 6 3 3 32 3 47
47 77 45 99
339 Miscellaneous Mngr. Supervisors (Sales & Service) 92 55 83 758
758 51 1 039
1 134 794 11 967
340
340 Health
Health and
and Welfare
Welfare Assoc
Assoc Professionals
Professionals nfd
nfd o
0 o
0 o
0 o
0 _ oo o
0 0
o o
0 o
0 I

341
341 Enrolled
Enrolled Nurses
Nurses o o
0 0 3 4 77 0
o 3 10
42 Welfare
;342 Welfare Associate Professionals 3 o
0 0 3 o
0 66 0
o 8 14 1
141
349
349 Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous Health
Health &
& Welfare
Welfare Associate
Associate Profs
Profs 0
o 3 o
0 3 o
0 6 3 6 15
15

b90 Associate Professionals

390 Other Associate Professionals nfd
nfd o 0
o o
0 o o o o o 01
0 i
 Construction Bachelor
Bachelor Undergraduate Associate Skilled Basic With Inadequately Not .
, Total
degree or diploma diploma vocational
vocational vocational qualifications described or applicable
higher qualifications qualifications not stated (no quals.)
quais.)
391 Police
X391 PoliceOfficers
Officers 0 0 0 44 0 4 0 0 44
399 Miscellaneous Associate Professionals 30 31 29 163 33 286
286 67 248 601
(400 Tradespersons and
400 Tradespersons and Related
Related Workers
Workers nfd 22 23 27 816 28 916 107 533 11 556
556
410 Mechanical
Mechanical/Fabrication
/Fabrication Engineering
Engineering Trades nfd 0 0 3 16 3 22 0 33 25
411 Mechanical Engineering Tradespersons 36 27 72 3 329 47 3 511 241 874 4 626
412 Fabrication Engineering Tradespersons 25 21 36 3 923 79 44 084
084 461 1 787 6 332
X421Automotive
r421 Automotive Tradespersons
Tradespersons 7 7 8 964 18
18 1 004 106 492 1 602
I

431 Electrical and Electronics Trades 331 259 810 33 710 503
503 35613
35 613 1 904 8 207 45 724
440 Construction Tradespersons nfd 5 7 7 182 5 206 33 212 451 1

441 Structural Construction Trades 555 486 1 255

1 53 365 1
1 005 56 666 66 509
509 32 897 96 072
442 Final
1442 FinalFinishes
FinishesConstruction
Construction Trades
Trades 314 203 182 14 536 279
279 15 514 2 347 13 108 30 969
443 Plumbers 95 136 366 27 089 356
356 28 042 1 467 6 491 36 000
X451 Food
1451 Food Tradespersons
Tradespersons 0 3 0 12 5 20 9 41 70
460 Skilled Agricultural
Agricultural/Horticultural
/Horticultural Workers nfd 0 0 00 00 0 0 0 0 00
461 Skilled
'WI Skilled Agricultural Workers
Agricultural Workers 0 00 00 00 0 0 3 14 17
462 Horticultural Tradespersons 320 206 352 2 037 324 3 239 515
515 4 701 8 455
490 Other Tradespersons
r4-90-0-therTTaespersons and Related Workers nfd 0 0 0 88 0 8 3 77 18
491 Printing Tradespersons 0 3 0 27 4 34 3 36
36 73
492 Wood
/492 Wood Tradespersons
Tradespersons 9 9 16 638 6 678 67 393 1138
118
733
493 Hairdressers 0 0 0 29 3 32 4 4 40
494 Textile,
F494 Textile,Clothing
Clothing and
and Related
Related Trades 0 0 0 8 3 11 3 29 43i
43]
498 Miscellaneous Tradespersons and Related Wkrs 45 26 45 1 959 50 22 125
125 337
337 1 784 4 2246
46
:500 Advanced Clerical and Service Workers nfd 0 0 00 00 0 0 0 0 00
511 Secretaries and Personal Assistants 552 721 410 681 1 314
1 33 678
678 2 262 11 086 17 026
590 Other
1590 OtherAdvanced
AdvancedClerical
Clericaland
and Service
Service Wkrs
Wkrs nfd
nfd 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
 Construction Bachelor Undergraduate Associate Skilled
Skilled Basic With Inadequately Not Total
degree
degree or diploma diploma vocational vocational qualifications described or applicable
higher qualifications qualifications not stated (no quals.)
quais.)
591 Advanced Numerical Clerks 344 343
343 224 326 397 1 634 775 5 919 8 328
599 Miscellaneous Advanced Clerical and Service Wkrs 3 0 3 10 10 26 4 43 73
1600
1 600Intermediate
IntermediateClerical,
Clerical,Sales
Sales and
and Service
Service Wkrs
Wkrs nfd
nfd 0 0 0 10 0 10 3 31 44
610 Intermediate Clerical Workers nfd 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 15
611 General Clerks 266 270
270 174 418 439
439 1 567 799
799 6 302 8 668
612 Keyboard Operators 47 31 37 50 82
82 247 122
122 804 1 173
613 Receptionists 49 46 77 64 188 424 235 1 542 2 201 -1
614 Intermediate Numerical Clerks 239 128 221
221 372
372 186 1 146 283 2 188 3 617
615 Material Record and Despatch Clerks 48 42 64 282 73
73 509 90
90 1 019 1 618 1

619 Miscellaneous Intermediate Clerical Workers 35 17 32 73 34 191

191 35 338 564
621 Intermediate Sales and Related Workers 125 68 74 540 87 894 119 1 095 2 108 1

630 Intermediate Service Workers nfd 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00

Carers and
1631-Carers and Aides 9 11 10 51 10 91 27 125 243
632 Hospitality Workers 0 5 5 8 4 22 7 58 87
639 Miscellaneous Intermediate Service Workers 4 4 4 20 6 38 18
18 71 127 I

700 Intermediate Production and Transport Wkrs nfd 4 5 8 233

233 60
60 310
310 103 824 1 237
710 Intermediate
F7-1-0 IntermediatePlant
PlantOperators
Operators nfd 3 5 9 193 38 248
248 132 1 107 1 487 -1
711 Mobile Plant Operators 75 73 91 2 649 332 3 220 989
989 11
11 945
945 16 154
16 154
712 Intermediate Stationary Plant Operators 30 15 28 1 103 199 1 375 229 1 864 3 468
720 Intermediate Machine Operators nfd 19 15 12 430 49 o° 525
525 211 2 203 2 939Jj
2 939
721 Intermediate Textile
Textile/Clothing/Related
/Clothing/Related Mach Ops 0 0 0 13 0 13
13 9 43 ' 65
729 Miscellaneous Intermediate Machine Operators 11
11 14 10 396
396 25
25 456 130 1 231 1 817 1
731 Road and Rail Transport Drivers 28 25 33 1 156 96
96 1 338 404 5 677 7 419
Other Intermediate
1790 Other Prod'n && T'port
IntermediateProd'n T'port Wkrs
Wkrs nfd
nfd 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 41
791 Intermediate Mining
Mining and
and Construction
Construction Workers
Workers 82 71 70 2 376 753 3 352 792
792 5 069 9 213
799 Misc Intermediate Prod'n and Transport Wkrs 32 20 35 289
289 32 408 115 1 110 1 633 I
Construction Bachelor Undergraduate Associate Skilled Basic With Inadequately Not Total
degree or diploma diploma vocational vocational
vocational qualifications described
described oror applicable
applicable
higher qualifications qualifications not stated (no quals.)
quais.)
800 Elementary
'pOO ElementaryClerical,
Clerical,Sales
Salesand
and Service
Service Wkrs
Wkrs nfd 0 o
0 3 0
o o
0 33 3 6 12
Ì
811 Elementary Clerks
Clerks 17 20 24
24 54
54 37 152 57 444
444 653
820 Elementary Sales Workers nfd 0 0 0 0 00 0 33 0 3

821 Sales Assistants 83 42

42 43 356 65 589 143 1
1 302 2
2 034

829 Miscellaneous Elementary Sales Workers 24 13 15 41 25 118 48

48 405 571 i
831 Elementary Service Workers 46
46 28
28 37
37 366 46 523 149 1
1 006 1
1 678

900 Labourers and Related Workers nfd 42

42 14 27
27 439 57 579 288 2 902 33 769
911 Cleaners 30 34 10 234 34 342 156 11 557 22 055
920 Factory
920 Factory Labourers
Labourers nfd
nfd 0 0 0 0 00 0 00 3 3

921 Process Workers 31 12 24

24 260 29 356 133 1
1 579 22 068
922 Product Packagers 0 0 0 7 3 10 11 101 122
990 Other Labourers and Related Workers nfd 0 0 0 24 3 27 00 68 95
95
991 Mining, Construction and Related Labourers 352 227 331 5 958
5 553 7 421 2 299 26 869
869 36 589
992 Agricultural and Horticultural Labourers 21
21 13 16 136 31 217 56 747 1
1 020

993 Elementary Food Preparation and Related Wkrs 3 3 0 3 00 9 55 63 77

77 j

999 Miscellaneous Labourers and Related Workers 132 106 98 11 265 112 1 713 304 22 677 4 694
Ó99 Inadequately
iO99 Inadequately described 105 58
58 100 11 591
591 98 1 952 380 1
1 990 4 322
Not stated 30 31 23
23 478 39 601 357 1
1 144 22 102
Not applicable - - - - -
Total 17 389 7 650 12 270 198 680 11 280
11 24 7269 33 482 203 338 484 089
089

Note:
Note: nfd - not further defined
Source: ABS, 1996 Census of population and housing
I