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Market Commentary July 2008
Automotive Engineering
Despite what the media is portraying, from our perspective, the requirements for Engineers in the Automotive industry, especially for product development, have been booming. There is particular demand for engineering experience in developing powertrain, chassis, body exterior, electrical wiring harnesses, mechanisms, etc,. The general level of experience is for new Graduates through to about 5-10 years. Most positions require degree qualifications recognised by Engineers Australia. Most activity has been at the tier 1 supply level and some of the OEM's. Salaries are on the move, starting in the low $60,000's up to high $90,000's. Recent announcements regarding hybrid vehicle manufacture suggests that the sector will grow.
Mechanical Engineering
Generally speaking, the Engineering skills shortage is creating opportunities across the board. There is a definite need for CAD Engineers, especially with 3D modeling, FEA and CFD expertise. Typically, companies are looking for skills in design, especially with packages like SolidWorks, Catia, UG and Pro-Engineer. From the manufacturing perspective there has been a rise in requirements for Engineers with skills and experience of 5S, Kaizen, Kanban and 6 Sigma in industries ranging from cable manufacturing and bio-medical through to Automotive. At senior level there has been an upturn in the need for experienced Engineering Managers, be it Product Development or Plant Engineering.
Manufacturing Professionals
It is fair to say the need for Manufacturing Engineers and Managers has not been as active for us as in the past. However in the last few months we have had numerous clients seeking Operations Managers, Production Managers, Maintenance Supervisors and Assistant Production Managers. The mix of industries covers Waste Recycling, Electronics Assembly, Composite Materials and Automotive Components. There has been additional need for experienced purchasing professionals. So in our world, manufacturing is alive and well. Salaries ranging from low $80,000's through to $120,000.
Electronics/Technology Engineering
There is a tight supply of candidates with relevant experience. Candidates with highly sought after skills are able to negotiate good salaries. Equally, company's expectations are higher than they have been. Companies are being more selective than they have been in the past. Opportunities are still there but more so within the smaller companies with less than 50 employees. All companies are expecting candidates to demonstrate versatility, very positive attitudes and the ability to work in different areas. Employers are looking for generous contributions toward company objectives and a willingness to go that little bit further than just doing the job. Salaries are not increasing dramatically, except where the employee's performance is exceptional. Starting at $50,000 for a graduate, $60,000 - $80,000 for up to 5 years experience and $75,000 plus for over 5 years experience.
Consulting Engineering, Civil/Structural Engineering, Building Services
At the moment the market is tight. There is a high demand for Engineers across all consulting engineering and building service areas and disciplines. Clients are extremely busy with unprecedented growth. Candidates with 5-10 years experience are highly sought after and can enter into negotiations with a prospective employer from a position of strength. There is no let up and work is solid for the first half of the new financial year. Consultants are over-stretched and it looks like continuing that way until the end of the year. If you are looking to move companies, now would be a good time to maximise your earning capacity. Salaries are ranging from $80,000 - $130,000 for 5-10 years experience and $120,000 - $200,000 for 10 years plus experience.
Drafting
There is a severe shortage of experienced drafters available. The April - June Quarter has been busy, although clients are tending to offer shorter term drafting roles, which indicates that the market is being cautious. Skills in demand are Autocad, both 2D and 3D, as well as other packages such as Solidworks, Pro Engineer, and Inventor. The predominant active environments include Structural Drafting, Plant Layout, Piping, Special Purpose Machinery and Conveyor Systems. Rates range from $40 - $60 per hour.
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