Civil Construction Leading Hand
Shortage Now
States / territories with a shortage signal
Snapshot
Median salary
A$119,900
Full-time annual
People employed
38,700
Estimated workforce
Shortage signal
No shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Supervises and performs specialist roles in a small civil work team, including monitoring work programs, ensuring safety and organising plant, labour and material resources on civil construction sites.
Specialisations
Skills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Supervises, coordinates and participates in civil construction work
- Assists Construction Site Supervisors to monitor construction programs, organise resources and resolve issues
- Directs and monitors subcontractors, suppliers and plant hirers, and conducts briefings with work crews to deliver project information and assign tasks
- Provides technical support to work teams on issues such as plant or machine operation, and ensures plant and machinery is maintained and operated in accordance with safety standards
- Maintains a daily record of site activities for reporting to Construction Site Supervisors
Where people work
State / territory distribution
Highest education
Share of workers
Education & work pattern
Part-time
7%
Female rate
6%
Median age
42
2030 & 2035 employment outlook
to 2030
+8%
6,952 projected jobs
to 2035
+14%
11,940 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 IV in Civil Construction
Occupation ready
Certificate II in Civil Construction
Progression pathway
Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations
Progression pathway
Certificate III in Civil Construction
Progression pathway
Certificate III in Civil Foundations
Progression pathway
Certificate III in Trenchless Technology
Progression pathway
Certificate IV in Civil Construction Design
Progression pathway
Certificate IV in Civil Infrastructure Asset Management
Progression pathway
Certificate III in Rigging
Progression pathway
Diploma of Civil Construction Management
Specialised training
Diploma of Civil Construction Design
Specialised training
Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design
Specialised training
Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction
Specialised training
Diploma of Building and Construction (Management)
Specialised training
Certificate IV in Resource Processing
Transferable skills
Real jobs right now
Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & moreCurrent vacancy signal
QLD · May 2026
666
ACT · May 2026
29
VIC · May 2026
417
NT · May 2026
19
SA · May 2026
127
NSW · May 2026
649
Where could this career take you?
Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Civil Construction Leading Hand.
Regional demand
Largest employment base
#1 Perth - North West
3,340 estimated employed
- 1
Perth - North West
3,340 employed
WA
+6.88%
year on year
- 2
Sydney - Inner South West
2,435 employed
NSW
+0.33%
year on year
- 3
Perth - South West
2,430 employed
WA
+22.67%
year on year
- 4
Gold Coast
2,297 employed
QLD
-8.49%
year on year
- 5
Melbourne - West
2,266 employed
VIC
-4.83%
year on year
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Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.
Workers in this occupation
23,230
Moved in from another occupation
3,840
Moved to another occupation
2,215
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
3
points
- 4
3
points
- 5
3
points
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 312431
- 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.