The 2020s have been tumultuous to say the least, with the pandemic, conflicts, major weather events and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) impacting people globally. For many, this uncertainty and change has raised questions about their career choices into the future.

For engineering and technical professionals work is often project driven, which means global events and economic trends can have a major impact on employment opportunities. Furthermore, as AI plays a greater role in professional work it is important to consider what the future looks like for engineering and technical professionals and how their roles may change.

While it is impossible to look too far into the future, there are numerous factors that continue to make engineering and technical professions a good choice for Australians now and over the next decade.

1. Relative economic stability and investment 

Australia has thriving infrastructure, construction, mining, and manufacturing sectors, creating a range of job opportunities for engineering and technical professionals. More importantly, both State and Federal governments tend to leverage infrastructure investment to drive economic growth, which means they often invest during downturns. Indeed, this was evident during the pandemic.

While Victoria's withdrawal from hosting the Commonwealth Games, and placing other projects on hold, might seem to contradict this point, it is important to review the overall picture. According to Engineers Australia, Queensland’s decade-long pipeline of works connected to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games holds it in good stead, while nationally there are numerous projects aimed at supporting an anticipated population of 40 million by 2059. These projects cover transport, advanced communications, future cities, critical water infrastructure, tourism, and warehousing and supply chains.

2. Skills shortages in engineering and technical roles 

Australia faces a shortage of skilled engineers in various fields such as civil, mechanical, electrical, aerospace, software engineering and project management. This is due to the investments mentioned above, combined with the many skilled professionals who are retiring from the workforce – a byproduct of the aging baby-boomer population. The resulting significant skill gaps add to consistent demand for qualified engineers in Australia and internationally, and will impact those workforces for years to come.

In fact, Bayside Group has sourced international engineering and technical talent from overseas to meet demand in Australia since the mid-2000s. Without this source of skilled workers, our clients would not have been able to deliver critical projects. For local engineering and technical professionals – aspiring or experienced – the opportunities are definitely there.

3. Competitive salaries and career growth opportunities

While salary can vary depending on the industry, overall, Australian engineering and technical salaries are often higher than in other countries, with specific regions, industries, or roles offering additional benefits and incentives. Seek salary insights in July 2023 state the average wage for an engineer in Australia ranges from $95,000 to $115,000 AUD.

There are also significant opportunities to move into management and executive roles. Wayne Eaton, National Manager – Engineering at Bayside Group, explains how his team has helped engineering and technical professionals to navigate career progression, identifying opportunities that they perhaps haven’t thought about themselves.

“Technical skills, such as engineering, project management or asset management, combined with leadership capabilities, are highly sought after in the market,” Wayne explains. Over the last decade, he has placed many technical professionals who have successfully developed their leadership and people skills into senior roles. Working to develop interpersonal and leadership capabilities can have enormous benefits for career progression.

4. Technology will enhance capability 

Engineering and technical careers have been and will continue to be heavily influenced by technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Professionals will need to adapt to new tools and technologies, as interdisciplinary skills become increasingly important.

The importance of data and analytics will also grow, leading to data-driven decision-making in engineering. Skills in data analysis and interpretation to optimise designs and systems will be required as well.

With this comes social and ethical considerations and opportunities. The pace of technological change means that professionals will need to commit to lifelong learning, with adaptability a key trait for success. Engineers Australia has recognised that engineering will evolve rapidly in the future, and is introducing micro credentials to ensure the knowledge and skills of Australian engineers remain relevant.

5. Climate change focus generating employment 

Extreme weather events have created major issues, from displacement to food shortages to increasing health crises, prompting many governments and organisations to focus on the environment and design solutions for climate related problems.

Demand for engineers who specialise in sustainable and eco-friendly technologies is increasing as a result. Australia aims to achieve a 38% reduction in greenhouse emissions on 2005 levels by 2035. The baseline scenario includes existing federal, state and territory policies and measures as well as policies under the Powering Australia Plan.

If we have learned anything over the last few years, it is that the future is very difficult to predict. However, these trends suggest that engineering and technical professionals will continue to be in demand, making it a viable career choice for those willing to adapt and embrace emerging technologies.

Bayside Group is one of Australia’s leading engineering and technical recruiters. Click here to register with us for future opportunities, or view available jobs.