Bricklayer
Shortage Now
States / territories with a shortage signal
Why this shortage: Retention gap
Snapshot
Median salary
A$87,800
Full-time annual
People employed
16,700
Estimated workforce
Shortage signal
Shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Lays bricks, pre-cut stone and other types of building blocks in mortar to construct and repair walls, partitions, arches, segmental paving and other structures.
Alternative titles
Blocklayer
Specialisations
Skills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Studies plans and specifications to determine materials required, dimensions and installation procedures
- Erects and dismantles restricted height scaffolding
- Seals foundations with damp-resistant materials and spreads layers of mortar to serve as base and binder for building blocks
- Cuts building blocks using machines and hand tools, and shapes blocks to fit irregular spaces
- Sets out blockwork and lays building blocks in rows, designs and shapes
- Embeds building blocks in mortar ensuring construction is level, plumb and aligned, and removes excess mortar
- Installs lintels and flashings to openings
- Repairs and maintains bricks, cement blocks and related structures
- May prepare base and bedding courses, and lay segmental paving
Where people work
State / territory distribution
Highest education
Share of workers
Education & work pattern
Part-time
25%
Female rate
1%
Median age
38
2030 & 2035 employment outlook
to 2030
+5%
1,390 projected jobs
to 2035
+10%
2,608 projected jobs
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OSCA skill level 3
A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.
Registration or licensing
Registration or licensing may be required.
Official VET pathways
Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying
Occupation ready
Certificate II in Construction Pathways
Pre-vocational
Certificate II in Construction
Progression pathway
Certificate III in Stonemasonry
Progression pathway
Real jobs right now
Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & moreCurrent vacancy signal
QLD · May 2026
22
ACT · May 2026
1
VIC · May 2026
15
NT · May 2026
1
SA · May 2026
4
NSW · May 2026
23
Where could this career take you?
Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Bricklayer.
Regional demand
Largest employment base
#1 Perth - North West
1,773 estimated employed
- 1
Perth - North West
1,773 employed
WA
+7.32%
year on year
- 2
Melbourne - South East
1,266 employed
VIC
+22.91%
year on year
- 3
Perth - South East
1,175 employed
WA
-3.37%
year on year
- 4
Melbourne - North East
1,031 employed
VIC
+13.8%
year on year
- 5
Gold Coast
895 employed
QLD
+15.04%
year on year
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Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.
Workers in this occupation
9,695
Moved in from another occupation
1,820
Moved to another occupation
1,690
Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.
- 1
5
points
- 2
4
points
- 3
4
points
- 4
3
points
- 5
3
points
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 371131
- Last updated
- Refresh pending
- Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · OSCA 2024 — Jobs and Skills Australia
Labour-market data coverage
- Shortage signal and drivers: JSA Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO unit group where applicable).
- Work profile, state distribution and education: JSA Occupation Profiles (ANZSCO mapped).
- Regional employment: JSA NERO, June 2026.
- Career-move observations: JSA DOM, last available 2020–21. Observed Australian worker transitions are not personalised recommendations; many contractors and sole traders are excluded, as are transitions below 10 workers.
- Vacancy signal: JSA Internet Vacancy Index, 3-month average (ANZSCO unit group).
- Employment outlook: JSA employment projections (ANZSCO unit group).
- Training pathways: JSA Training Occupation Pathways.
Data confidence: estimate.