Manufacturing and engineering

The manufacturing industry includes those businesses involved in the production and refinement of goods.  This includes machinery and equipment production, the making of food, beverages and tobacco products, and printing, publishing and recorded media.  It also includes chemical and pharmaceutical production, the making of textiles, clothing, footwear, paper and packaging products, furnishing, building materials and the automotive industry.  The manufacturing industry comprises approximately 13% of all jobs in Australia, employing some 1.1 million people.  While growth has not been as strong as in other sectors, manufacturing continues to be the largest industry with a gross product of around $70 billion.  Because the industry is so diverse in terms of the goods produced and the types of employment available, the information about the industry has been divided into three sections that reflect the Industry Training Board divisions.  These three areas include:

• Light Manufacturing (Furniture, Textiles, Clothing and Footwear);
• Manufacturing (Process Manufacturing); and,
• Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services. 

Characteristics and trends

The major industries can be categorised as:

• aerospace engineering;
• boating;
• metal product manufacturing;
• electrical & electronic equipment manufacturing;
• heavy engineering;
• machine tools;
• medical surgical and optical equipment manufacturing;
• ship building;
• space. 

These sectors comprise about 50% of Australia’s manufacturing industry. In general, 85% of enterprises in these industry sectors are small to medium.  Each sector is involved in the manufacture, service and repair, and maintenance of products, tooling, and equipment, as well as processes.  Employee numbers in this industry are estimated at around 650,000.  There is projected employment growth for this industry although the growth is not as great as in other industries.  The industry takes on significant numbers of new entrants each year particularly in the metal trades areas as new apprentices.  A major issue for the industry is an ageing workforce and priorities for the future are multi-skilling and attracting younger new entrants into the industry. 

Employment

There are very good employment opportunities in this sector for employees willing to undertake structured training.  The largest employment sectors include metals, electrical and electronic equipment, and machine tooling and robotics.  Specific skill shortages projected for the industry include:

• toolmakers, particularly in plactics moulding and press tools;
• machinists and operators of NC/CNC equipment including sheet metal;
• maintenance fitters in manufacturing plant including industrial electricians, heavy plant and mobile equipment, process control and instrumentation including programmable controls and robotics, and hydraulics;
• design/drafting/production applications including CAD/CAM/CIM;
• metal fabricators (including welding) in stainless steel, aluminium, air-conditioning duct work, and pipework;
• aircraft maintenance engineers, particularly avionics;
• aircraft maintenance managers;
• aerospace avionics – sofware and applications. 

Many of the job opportunities require qualifications at the AQF levels V and VI.  Entrance to the industry is primarily through new apprenticeships and pre-employment training is an advantage for prospective employees. 

Typical jobs in the industry include:

• Shipwright (boat builder and repairer);
• marine engineering or fabrication;
• jeweller;
• design engineer;
• toolmaker;
• engineering fabrication;
• aircraft maintenance tradesperson or engineer;
• aircraft mechanic;
• metal tradesperson.

Qualifications, education and experience

The industry is very male dominated and there is industry concern about an ageing workforce profile.  As such, the industry is promoting opportunities more broadly to women and people who are willing to train and gain qualifications.  For people with no experience or background, entrance is usually as a trainee or apprentice.  Pre-employment training at Certificate Levels I and II would be an advantage for employment. 

What an employer might ask

Industry information says that the qualities necessary to build a career include: enthusiasm, dedication, motivation, reliability and common sense.  Other important attributes include capability at practical and manual work, a technical aptitude, reasonable physical fitness, the ability to solve problems and a methodical approach to work.  For some sectors such as boat building and aeronautics, the ability to work at heights on scaffolding will be important, as will observance of occupational, health and safety practices.  In an interview, employers will want to know how well you can demonstrate these qualities.  Many employers in this industry have websites that provide advice on employment opportunities and what the company is looking for in an employee.  It is a very good idea to look at these as part of a job search process and definitely before applying for a job.

Employment wages and conditions

Wages vary across the industry but due to the requirement to gain skills in this industry, work is generally highly regulated and well rewarded.    Many employers have enterprise agreements in place that provide good base rates of employment with opportunities for penalty rates to be paid for overtime or shift work.  Wages increase with training, time served and experience.  A search for relevant industry rates can be done at www.wagenet.gov.au through searching under the categories of metals, toolmaking and other occupation specific terms.  Roughly, an entry-level employee can expect to earn at least $450 - $600 per week.  Percentages of these rates are paid for trainees and apprentices or for junior or part-time employees.  An important award for this industry is the Metal, Engineering and Associated Industries Award. 

Because of the many skill shortages in this industry, employers are concerned about promoting a more modern image of work conditions.  There is a common and outdated perception that work in this industry takes place in undesirable, dirty and noisy work environments. This is often not the case as technologies and systems of work become more sophisticated, clean and controlled. There are many opportunities in the industry including clear career pathways in the industry and new entrants can progress rapidly into supervisory and management positions with training.  Employment is well rewarded and the skills gained are highly transportable both within Australia and overseas. 

The Salvation Army Employment Plus placements

The Salvation Army Employment Plus has placed many people into manufacturing positions, with a concentration of placements as boilermakers and welders, electricians, machine operators, process workers, metal production assistants, motor mechanics, product assemblers and wood products workers.

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