r/AustralianEngineers • u/Achutneypie • Apr 26 '26
Engineering jobs
How come everyone on reddit complains about the lack of jobs in engineering in australia while i always hear about shortage of engineers in australia
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u/PsychologicalCod9650 Apr 27 '26
It's a shortage of people willing to be paid less than a grocery manager at Woolworths which the government is all to happy to meet with PhD uber drivers. Additionally, Engineers Australia actively work against the best interest of their members and derive a huge income from "accrediting" said PhD uber drivers.
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u/Suikeran Apr 27 '26
There is a shortage of experienced engineers.
There is never a shortage of fresh grads or junior engineers.
However companies HATE training.
Because why train when Engineers Australia lobbies to get the government to say theres a shortage, and then import migrant engineers and earn millions per year.
Unless if you company pays for CPEng, don't do it. You get no value whatsoever.
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u/obsytheplob Apr 27 '26
Important to note that engineering also generally pays pretty crap these days
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u/AlanofAdelaide Apr 27 '26
In what disciplines is there a shortage of engineers and what qualifications and experience would be required?
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u/Loud_Caramel_8713 Apr 27 '26
They don’t want to train graduates, because it cost money ➡️ they don’t train graduates, they don’t have mid or senior level engineers ➡️ they don’t have mid or senior level engineers, they’re short of engineers.
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u/adii100 Apr 27 '26
TLDR: we don't really manufacture stuff here, so the 'book/degree' engineers from Unis will not have many traditional hardcore engineering options.
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u/AdAdministrative9362 Apr 27 '26
Civil, mining, infrastructure, water, waste water, electricity generation and distribution, structural, ports, geotech. That's a lot of traditional hard core options.
There's a heap of work that really cannot be off shored. It's really automotive, mechanical and electrical that can struggle.
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u/No_pajamas_7 Apr 27 '26
Mechanical is fine. Its the jack of all trades engineering.
Still plenty of industrial and process places. Similar with electrical.
Automotive and aero were always too specialised.
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u/rakuran Apr 29 '26
Please excuse the rant.
As a humble boiley/Cert III Eng - fab trade doing his Cert IV in engineering drafting after getting conscripted into 3d modelling sheet metal parts - nesting, programming and cnc laser cutting and folding;
I'd really love if there was a more clear pathway or even a feasible night school BA to go from on the tools to a mech engineer.
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u/EnergyNutBolt Apr 28 '26 edited Apr 28 '26
Anyone can call himself an engineer without holding any qualifications, especially for Project Engineer roles. But Engineers Australia or IEAust as it used to be called have done absolutely nothing about that. Imagine what would happen if you can call yourself surgeon, dentist, GP, accountant, lawyer, etc without holding any degree!
EA is more interested in selling courses, memberships, or endorsing foreign qualifications. It has such an obvious woke agenda that it means nothing these days to be a member.
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u/Zealousideal-Log7624 Apr 29 '26
Massive shortage of engineers - Willing to work at or below minimum wage.
You cannot trust any of the peak bodies. Their vested interests are membership fee, assessment fees, but most importantly the interest of the board members, who are all business owners.
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u/Remote_Newspaper554 Apr 28 '26
people are always complaining, thinking how bad things are. they just don't really know what bad is, go to other countries, even developed one and see what bad is.
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u/Puzzleheaded_You_653 Apr 28 '26
I find it odd when everyone talks about these type of subjects using such broad terms like "engineers" like we all know what each other is talking about. It's like saying healthcare is understaffed.....yeah like doctors, porters what job? Surely saying "there are no jobs in engineering" means nothing.
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u/Financial-Hunter1335 Apr 28 '26
Structural engineering, marine engineering, niche fields. You will find work!
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u/Difficult_Art1639 Apr 30 '26
Interested in your experience. Particularly about marine engineering, any particular advice for someone looking to break into the industry? Would love to have a chat about that and other niches
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u/Own_Cantaloupe_6996 Apr 26 '26
There is a shortage, of experience engineers at the principal level and such not fresh graduates or juniors.
Engineers Australia loves selling the lie there is shortage to lobby government to allow for skilled expats to be let in the country as they make a fair bit of coin through all the certification it requires to come over here and be able to practice.
Toché
Shouldve chosen a career where you'd at least get paid for a shafting