Signage and Building Surveying

Training snapshot

Overall, program enrolments in Signage and Building Surveying-related qualifications decreased from approximately 1,780 in 2017 to 1,480 in 2021. Program completions decreased overall between 2017 and 2020, from approximately 290 to 230, before increasing in 2021 to more than 310.

Enrolments in this sector were concentrated at the diploma or higher level (58%) and certificate III levels (42%) in 2021, with more than half of program enrolments (58%) in Building Surveying qualifications and the remaining (42%) in Signage qualifications. The intended occupations for training in this sector are Building Inspector (58%) and Signwriter (42%).

In 2021, more than half (55%) of qualifications in this sector were delivered by TAFE institutes, approximately 26% by private training providers and 19% by universities. TAFE institutes delivered 61% of Building Surveying qualifications with universities delivering 19%. In relation to Signage qualifications, TAFE institutes delivered almost half (48%) of, with private training providers delivering 34% and universities 18%.

Overall, most of the Signage and Building Surveying-related subjects were Commonwealth and state funded (86%) in 2021. However, the distribution of funding between government and domestic fee for service varied by provider type.

Victoria had the highest proportion of students (43%) enrolled in Signage and Building Surveying-related qualifications in 2021, followed by New South Wales (25%) and Queensland (17%). Approximately seven out ten program enrolments in Signage and Building Surveying-related qualifications were delivered in Victoria (39%) and New South Wales (31%).

Apprentice and trainee commencements declined between 2012 and 2020, from approximately 210 to 190. However, between 2020 and 2021 commencements increased 41% to 270. Overall, apprentice and trainee completions slightly declined from approximately 120 to 100 between 2012 and 2021, although the number of completions fluctuated over this period.

Apprenticeships and traineeships in this sector have an intended occupation of Signwriter. Approximately a third (33%) of all apprenticeships in 2021 were undertaken in Queensland, closely followed by New South Wales (32%) and Victoria (18%).

For more data specific to your occupation, industry group or training package, visit NCVER’s Data Builder.

For more data specific to your region visit NCVER’s Atlas of total VET.

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For an analysis of skills needs and workforce demand, see the Construction cluster page.

The Construction, Plumbing and Services IRC’s 2020 Skills Forecast was the final skills forecast released by the IRC. It stated that new workforce skills were emerging within an existing environment of continuing and intensifying regulation.

The report Building Confidence (BC) considered the effectiveness of compliance and enforcement of systems for the building and construction industry and made 24 recommendations for a best practice model. These included recommendations for Building Surveyors; see Recommendations 1-4 and Recommendation 9. The BC report noted the role of building surveyors was critical to the building approvals process and suggested there may be an inadequate supply to meet future needs. It also called for supervision of trainees to be pragmatic, so their engagement is commercially viable.

The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) agreed to progress a response to Recommendation 4 which focused on career pathways for building surveyors. In late 2021, ABCB released a model guide on Evidence of experience for building surveyor registration, which was informed by stakeholder feedback and suggestions. The model guide was endorsed by Building Ministers or state and territory consideration and implementation.

To help meet skills shortage in Building Surveying, improve gender balance in the construction industry and drive construction stimulus projects, the Victorian Government established the Women Building Surveyors Program. It provided funding for 40 women to begin an Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying or Bachelor of Building Surveying, gain work experience with their local council and attend development opportunities.

Below is a list of industry-relevant research, organisations and associations. Hyperlinks have been included where available.

IRC and Skills Forecasts

Construction, Plumbing and Services Industry Reference Committee

• Construction, Plumbing and Services IRC's 2020 Skills Forecast
• Construction, Plumbing and Services IRC's 2019 Skills Forecast
• IRC membership
• Artibus Innovation – Skills Service Organisation

Relevant research

Building Confidence: Improving the Effectiveness of Compliance and Enforcement Systems for the Building and Construction Industry across Australia – Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

Evidence of experience for building surveyor registration – Australian Building Codes Board

Women Building Surveyors Program – Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (Victoria State Government)

Industry associations and advisory bodies

Australian Building Sustainability Association (ABSA)

Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA)

Australian Industry Group (Ai Group)

Australian Institute of Building (AIB)

Australian Institute of Building Surveyors (AIBS)

Australian Sign and Graphics Association (ASGA)

Building Designers Association of Australia (BDAA)

Consulting Surveyors National (CSN)

Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI)

Employee associations

Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU)

Australian Workers’ Union (AWU)

Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU)

National Skills Commission 2022, Occupation Employment Projections viewed 10 August 2022, https://www.nationalskillscommission.gov.au/topics/employment-projections

• by ANZSCO, selected occupations, employment projections to May 2026
  
  • 3996 Signwriters
  • 3121 Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians.

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2022, 6291.0.55.001 - EQ08 - Employed persons by Occupation unit group of main job (ANZSCO), Sex, State and Territory, August 1986 onwards, viewed 1 August 2022, https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/may-2022

• Employed total by ANZSIC 4 digit 3996 Signwriters and 3121 Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians, 2002 to 2022, May Quarter.

Training data has been extracted from the National VET Provider Collection, Total VET Students and Courses from the following training packages or qualifications:

• CPC Construction, Plumbing and Services, BCF Off-Site Construction, BCG General Construction and BCP Plumbing and Services Training Packages.
• Building Surveying
  
  • BCG50103 - Diploma of Building Surveying
  • BCG60103 - Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying
  • CPC50108 - Diploma of Building Surveying
  • CPC60108 - Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying
  • CPC60115 - Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying
  • CPC60121 - Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying.
• Signage
  
  • BCF30700 - Certificate III in Off-Site Construction (Sign Writing/Computer Operations)
  • BCF30800 - Certificate III in Off-Site Construction (Sign Manufacture)
  • CPC30216 - Certificate III in Signs and Graphics
  • CPC32108 - Certificate III in Signage
  • CPC32111 - Certificate III in Signage.

This includes superseded qualifications and training packages.

Data covers a range of selected student and training characteristics in the following categories and years:

• 2017 to 2021 program enrolments
• 2017 to 2021 program completions
• 2021 subject enrolments.

Total VET students and courses data is reported for the calendar year. Program enrolments are the qualifications, courses and skill-sets in which students are enrolled in a given period. For students enrolled in multiple programs, all programs are counted. Program completion indicates that a student has completed a structured and integrated program of education or training. Location data uses student residence. Subject enrolment is registration of a student at a training delivery location for the purpose of undertaking a module, unit of competency or subject. For more information on the terms and definitions, please refer to the Total VET students and courses: terms and definitions document.

Low counts (less than 5) are not reported to protect client confidentiality.

Percentages are rounded to one decimal place. This can lead to situations where the total sum of proportions in a chart may not add up to exactly 100%.

CPC Construction, Plumbing and Services, BCF Off-Site Construction, BCG General Construction and BCP Plumbing and Services Training Packages apprentice and trainee data has been extracted from the National Apprentice and Trainee Collection, including:

• 2012 to 2021 commencements
• 2012 to 2021 completions
• apprentices and trainees in-training October to December 2021 collection, by qualification and state and territory of data submitter.