Engineering Recruitment – Market Commentary – October 2024

Due to the current softening of economic conditions, we are presently feeling a negative impact in engineering hiring, with some exceptions. We’re seeing fewer companies hiring, jobs being placed on hold and an increase in candidates actively searching for a new role. Candidates in current roles are also less adventurous to move at the moment – preferring the security of what they know. There is also evidence of increased numbers of engineering candidates in the job market after unfortunately having been made redundant. This current trend is also being amplified by recent and upcoming students graduating from university making competition in the candidate market fiercer, especially for more junior engineering roles.

Our business is soon entering our 46th year and we have seen many dips and rises across this journey as the market has fluctuated due to macro and micro factors. We can tell you with certainty that engineering hiring will improve. The longer term future for engineers is bright in a wide range of industries such as product design, technology, infrastructure, resources, renewables, data centres, building & mechanical services and defence. Key drivers will be the enormity of the challenge required to undertake the clean energy transition and to decarbonise, as well as the infrastructure and construction demand from our increasing population, and the new investment from the Australian Government’s Future Made in Australia agenda.

So even in a current market that is being squeezed, we remain highly engaged in helping and advising candidates and clients alike and in sharing opportunities and tips for all concerned.

 

Engineering & Manufacturing Operations

The engineering & manufacturing job market appears to be a reflection of the broader economy, with a slowdown in most sub-sectors, albeit with defence and construction being clear exceptions to the rule. Permanent roles have definitely been impacted in the current market. However, we are currently experiencing an increase in demand from clients for contract roles as a work around for workload peaks and we remain keen to engage with quality candidates for these types of roles. Examples of these types of contracts we have recently worked on range from entry level manufacturing engineering positions to experienced electrical engineers working on infrastructure projects.

Current permanent roles which we are working on include factory managers, HSE managers, mechanical engineers, structural and senior civil engineers, manufacturing engineers, electrical engineers, business development professionals and technical risk and safety management professionals.

 

Building Services

The building services job market in Australia is thriving, driven by sustainability initiatives, infrastructure expansion, urbanisation, technological advancements and the rapid growth of data centres. With increasing demand for energy-efficient designs, smart building technologies and the booming data centre industry, roles in HVAC, electrical, energy management, and automation are particularly sought after. Data centres, in particular, require specialised cooling and power management systems, creating high demand for building services professionals with expertise in these areas. Major infrastructure projects like Sydney Metro, Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop and SE Queensland pre-Olympic plans further fuel the need for skilled engineers, project managers, and technicians. Urban growth in cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane continues to generate opportunities in commissioning, facilities management and maintenance, as high-density developments rise to accommodate population increases. However, the industry faces challenges, notably a shortage of specialised skills and an ageing workforce nearing retirement.

Employers are prioritizing the recruitment of young talent through apprenticeships and graduate programs while leveraging experienced professionals for mentoring. Despite these challenges, the outlook for jobs in building services remains positive, with strong opportunities for professionals to expand their expertise in a market increasingly focused on sustainability, innovation and the fast-growing data centre sector.

We are currently searching for talented individuals in ACT, VIC, NSW, and QLD to fill the following positions: senior mechanical engineers, contract managers, bid managers, project managers. It’s a candidate-driven market, often meaning candidates have the upper hand and so now may be the perfect time to explore new opportunities and potentially secure a role with: greater career pathways, enhanced benefits and sometimes increased flexibility.  

 

Technology

As the year progresses and we find ourselves in the last quarter of 2024, the tech job market is showing signs of making a comeback, with more focus on data driven decision making and AI. Overall, there are many more job seekers than before and this is driving a fiercely competitive job market. As we are seeing a thorough mix of seasoned and less experienced candidates competing for jobs in tech, a job seeker’s most important task is to be well prepared before applying for suitable roles. Many job seekers are turning to AI to assist them in writing their resumes and cover letters. It would be in each individual’s best interest to make sure the generated resumes and cover letters are reviewed for tone, style and authenticity, so that they stand out from the multitude of other similarly generated resumes and cover letters. Each application should be customised to showcase your particular suitability for the role applied for and suitable examples of previous experience highlighting your skills should be incorporated.

The more prepared you are the more likely you will be to land your perfect job. We are happy to discuss your particular tech job hunt, career progression and help with interview preparation activities. Explore our job board for our current vacant roles and set up alerts for your next opportunity.
For employers, the current quarter has traditionally been about planning for next year’s resources. Now is the perfect time to reach out and discuss your requirements for next year. We would be happy to discuss your requirements and offer you our insight into the current job market and assist you in getting ready to begin 2025 with the most suitable resources needed.

Please review our open jobs on  https://www.australiawide.com.au/jobs/ and create a job alert for your ideal position. Also kindly connect and check us out on our LinkedIn site https://www.linkedin.com/company/australia-wide-personnel/

Our team of engineers and technologists across our sectors of expertise very much look forward to hearing from you.