Hays Construction & Property - April 2008

Hotspots

There is no doubt that Australia's construction market continues to boom. The scale of overall construction levels results in ongoing demand for staff, with estimators and site supervisors who can work on commercial projects valued up to $25million proving to be a particular hotspot of demand. Opportunities for site supervisors to gain exposure on large projects means some states with smaller markets, such as South Australia, are struggling to keep skilled candidates from the states with larger projects. Estimators are moving into project management roles, leaving a shortage of skills for estimating roles.

Cost planners are another hotspot of demand, while contract administrators remain firmly on the hotspot list - particularly those with experience on $25 million dollar and above projects. Forepersons and site managers in commercial construction are required.

The coming quarter

Construction is growing rapidly in states such as South Australia, and is maintaining its high levels of activity in others such as Queensland and Western Australia, ensuring the demand for candidates will remain high over the quarter. Many construction companies are growing, thus requiring further skilled candidates, and employers will willingly create a role for any skilled candidate that matches their criteria.

Other companies with rigorous selection criteria are struggling to recruit staff. These companies need to focus less on ticking all the boxes and more on a candidate's potential, even if this means training a candidate with the right fit and attitude into a role.

Executive

Highly skilled senior staff are still in short supply.

Salaries

Salaries are still rising, with the result that mid-tier companies are now offering salaries almost equivalent to those offered by the top tier.

Candidate trends

There seems to be a solid flow of candidate movement from states such as Victoria and South Australia to the booming Queensland and Western Australian states. In particular, candidates are attracted to civil projects offering high salaries in these states.