Production or Plant Engineer
Shortage Now
JSA currently reports no national or state/territory shortage signal for this occupation.
Snapshot
Median salary
Not available
People employed
4,600
Estimated workforce
Shortage signal
No shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Plans, directs and coordinates the design, construction, modification, continued performance and maintenance of equipment and machines in industrial plants, and the management and planning of production and plant activities.
Specialisations
Skills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Determines and plans the layout of equipment and machines in industrial plants
- Develops and implements strategies to improve the performance and efficiency of production and plant activities
- Coordinates the construction, modification and maintenance of equipment and machines in industrial plants
- Identifies and resolves technical issues and problems in industrial plants
- May use established systems to recognise and control at-risk behaviours and situations, and support the interaction of personnel and equipment in production activities
- May manage autonomous fleets of vehicles, and identify and implement operational improvements for autonomous fleet management systems to improve efficiency, productivity and overall operations in production activities
Where people work
State / territory distribution
Highest education
Share of workers
Education & work pattern
Part-time
9%
Female rate
10%
Median age
37
2030 & 2035 employment outlook
to 2030
+13%
5,095 projected jobs
to 2035
+23%
9,249 projected jobs
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OSCA skill level 1
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
Diploma of Industrial Electronics and Control Engineering
Progression pathway
Real jobs right now
Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & moreCurrent vacancy signal
QLD · May 2026
194
ACT · May 2026
15
VIC · May 2026
178
NT · May 2026
8
SA · May 2026
66
NSW · May 2026
233
Where could this career take you?
Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Production or Plant Engineer.
Regional demand
Largest employment base
#1 Brisbane Inner City
2,021 estimated employed
- 1
Brisbane Inner City
2,021 employed
QLD
+20.58%
year on year
- 2
Perth - North West
1,914 employed
WA
+28.03%
year on year
- 3
Perth - South East
1,846 employed
WA
+17.36%
year on year
- 4
Melbourne - South East
1,802 employed
VIC
-4.4%
year on year
- 5
Melbourne - Inner
1,773 employed
VIC
-5.74%
year on year
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Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.
Workers in this occupation
6,030
Moved in from another occupation
775
Moved to another occupation
550
Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.
- 1
4
points
- 2
3
points
- 3
3
points
- 4
3
points
- 5
3
points
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 243533
- Last updated
- 2026-07-16
- Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · Department of Home Affairs Core Skills Occupation List matched via ABS OSCA 2024 v1.0 correspondence Table 2
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: official-profile-and-csol.