Over the last few years, the quantity surveying industry has been experiencing a steady market, with the supply of roles and candidates finding an equilibrium. A study by the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors found that 40 per cent of companies surveyed feel that the market is steady, and a huge 52 per cent are starting to experience a shortage of qualified Quantity Surveyors across Australia.
This growing candidate scarcity will have a significant impact on job seekers, giving them more choice over roles.
In turn, this is forcing companies to pay to compete for the best talent.
Over 40 per cent of companies are expecting salaries to increase over the next 12 months, with the remaining 56 per cent of companies expecting salaries to at least remain strongly steady.
The growing shortage of qualified Quantity Surveyor candidates is being felt by our clients most strongly in New South Wales and Victoria. In these states and across Australia, companies will have a fluctuating need over the next years as many large-scale construction projects wrap up and roll out. It’s in these areas where Quantity Surveyors of various levels are seeing some of the highest average salaries.
For firms in NSW, attracting and retaining high-quality employees will prove more difficult as more jobs become available at all levels.
During the past year, quantity surveyor salaries have risen slightly across the country. Employers are now starting to compete for talent, striving to attract the best workers with generous pay. They are also including increasingly robust benefits packages for Quantity Surveyors of all experience levels, including perks like study leave and funding, car allowances, tech devices, and potential bonuses.
Those who are just entering the quantity surveying industry have high optimism about their prospects.
With hundreds of jobs being made available throughout the coming decade, particularly in the infrastructure arena, current students and recent graduates should have some great choices when it comes to their first role.
In fact, young quantity surveyors have become some of the most well-paid and employable professionals in Australia. The Good Education Group, publisher of The Good Careers Guide, found that Quantity Surveying has the potential for strong growth over the next 5 years, with Seek predicting growth of 8.9%. This is extremely positive for quantity surveyors, both new and experienced.
Download the 2019 Quantity Surveyor Salary Survey here and find out the current salary rates and career prospects in Australia.