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Civil engineers continue to be in high demand in 2025, fuelled by big infrastructure projects across Australia.
Back in 2020, the pandemic hit pause on a lot of industries. But by mid-2021, things started picking up — especially in construction and infrastructure. That’s when demand for civil engineers in Australia really took off.
- In 2021, around 63,000 civil engineers were employed across Australia.
- By 2023, that number had grown to 74,600 — a nearly 20% jump.
- Today, in 2025, the number is holding steady at about 72,800.
This growth hasn’t been by accident. Massive government infrastructure spending, population growth, and a strong focus on roads, transport, and utilities have fuelled steady job creation in the sector.
It’s worth noting that civil engineers form the largest engineering discipline in Australia’s labour market. In 2023 they made up about 40–50% of all professional engineers (source: engineersaustralia.org.au). However, the profession remains male-dominated (only 17% female) and relatively low in part-time employment (10% work part-time).
What About Job Vacancies?
From mid-2021 through 2023, employers were in a frenzy trying to find qualified civil engineers. Job ads skyrocketed to 10-year highs, and civil engineers became one of the most in-demand professions in the country.
Here’s what happened:
- 2021: Job ads for civil engineers jumped by 50% or more in some states. Queensland saw the biggest spike.
- 2022: Demand stayed high, especially as borders were still closed and skilled migrants hadn’t returned yet.
- 2023: Civil engineering roles remained hot, but things began to level off later in the year as major projects finished and more overseas engineers arrived.
- 2024 – 2025: Job ads have cooled slightly but are still well above pre-COVID levels. Right now, there are over 2,500 open civil engineering roles advertised across Australia.
What’s Driving All This?
Several key trends are behind the demand:
- Infrastructure investment: Billions have been spent on roads, tunnels, bridges, water projects, and public transport across every state and territory.
- Skilled migration gaps: In 2020–2021, overseas engineers couldn’t enter the country, creating talent shortages that lingered for years.
- Population growth: More people = more infrastructure.
- Major project pipelines: From the Brisbane 2032 Olympics to renewable energy zones and metro upgrades, there’s no shortage of big civil jobs on the go.
Major current and upcoming civil infrastructure projects across Australia
- Sydney Metro Projects: Australia’s largest public transport initiative, encompassing the Metro Northwest, City & Southwest, and Metro West lines. The Metro West project alone is estimated at $27 billion, aiming for completion by 2033.
- North East Link: A $26.1 billion tollway project connecting the M80 Ring Road to the Eastern Freeway, with completion anticipated in late 2028.
- Metro Tunnel: A $12.8 billion underground rail project featuring twin 9km tunnels and five new stations, scheduled to open in 2025.
- Suburban Rail Loop (SRL): An ambitious $50 billion project to create a 90km orbital rail line around Melbourne, with the first stage (SRL East) underway and expected to be operational by 2035.
- Cross River Rail: A $5.4 billion project delivering a 10.2km rail line through Brisbane, including a 5.9km tunnel under the Brisbane River and CBD, expected to be completed by 2026.
- Coomera Connector (Stage 1): A $2.1 billion, 16km motorway project connecting Nerang to Coomera, with completion anticipated in late 2025.
- CopperString 2032: A $13.9 billion transmission line project linking Townsville to Mount Isa, facilitating renewable energy integration and regional development.
- Rockhampton Ring Road: A $1.9 billion project enhancing connectivity in Central Queensland, with construction milestones including the completion of the Lion Creek Bridge.
- North-South Corridor (Torrens to Darlington): A significant road upgrade project, part of a broader $15.4 billion investment in South Australia’s infrastructure to improve connectivity and reduce congestion.
- METRONET: A comprehensive public transport program with multiple projects, including the Morley-Ellenbrook Line and Thornlie-Cockburn Link, collectively valued at over $1.84 billion.
- Inland Rail: A $31 billion freight rail project connecting Melbourne and Brisbane, enhancing the national freight network and expected to be completed by 2030-31.
Where Are the Jobs?
While NSW and Victoria still employ the most civil engineers, growth has been strong in Queensland, WA, and even Tasmania. In 2024, places like the ACT and regional WA saw some of the highest vacancy rates for civil engineers — likely due to local infrastructure surges and fewer available candidates.
Regional Civil Engineering Job Growth
Infrastructure upgrades, renewable energy projects, and strategic government initiatives are creating a robust demand for civil engineers in regional Australia. This trend is expected to continue as the country pursues its net-zero emissions targets and economic development goals, offering substantial opportunities for civil engineering professionals willing to work in regional areas.
What This Means for You
If you’re a civil engineer, it’s still a great time to be in the job market. Companies are hiring across the board — from graduate roles to senior project leaders — and the outlook remains positive.
If you’re an employer, competition for skilled engineers is still fierce. Even though migration has resumed, the talent pipeline is stretched, and attracting top candidates means moving fast, offering competitive salaries, and being flexible on experience.
Looking Ahead
The demand for civil engineers isn’t going away anytime soon. With hundreds of billions in public infrastructure planned over the next decade, plus the ongoing shift toward sustainable energy and smarter cities, the role of civil engineers is more important than ever.
Projected Construction Jobs for Brisbane 2032 Olympics in Queensland
Hosting the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is expected to create a massive boost in construction employment across Queensland. Building experts estimate that an additional 30,000 to 40,000 construction workers will be needed each year until 2032 to deliver all the planned projects – including Olympic venues and associated infrastructure (Source: ABC News).
The Games infrastructure program will represent the largest infrastructure investment in Queensland’s history. Major new venues and upgrades will be a huge source of construction jobs, particularly in South-East Queensland.
All you need to know about Brisbane’s Plan to deliver 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Need help hiring or finding your next role in civil engineering?
Whether you’re job hunting or hiring, 2025 is shaping up to be another busy year in civil construction — and that’s good news for the industry.
Get in touch with the team at ConsultANZ — we specialise in matching top talent with top infrastructure projects across Australia and New Zealand.
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