It is common knowledge that New Zealand has a shortage and demand for engineers. The sector’s need for engineering services far exceeds the rate the country can train to develop.
Talking to Stuff Engineering New Zealand chief executive Richard Templer says that more school students need to study the subjects required to become engineers. He wants more government support for developing science, technology, engineering, and maths skills to secure the industry’s future.
“We need about 2500 [new engineers] a year in terms of growth because, as our economy grows, as we’re looking to decarbonise, as we’re looking to be more resilient with climate change and everything like that, looking to solve Three Waters challenges, that require engineers” (Heagney, 2023).
Last year, only about 1800 graduated with a degree in engineering and related courses from universities, according to Stuff.
“It’s a big concern for Engineering New Zealand and a big concern for the engineering profession. If we don’t have students studying maths, physics, and chemistry, it’s very difficult for those students to upskill to become engineers,” Templer says.
Templer would like to see the country invest and promote engineering more to students and for the schools to pay more attention to it.
Impacts of engineering shortage in New Zealand
Unless the country’s universities produce and train more engineers, it must attract more engineers through the international market. Failing to fill the engineering skills gap will negatively impact New Zealand’s ability to respond to its infrastructure needs.
The country’s plan to consolidate and integrate its wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water through the Three Waters reform program that it announced in July 2020, with the legislation passed in December 2022, will require a considerable number of engineers specializing in the design, construction, and management of wastewater, drinkable water, and stormwater systems.
A Department of Internal Affairs estimates the reforms will create 6,000 to 9,000 jobs over the next 30 years, according to an RNZ report.
But this demand for engineering jobs remains even as the new Government changes the reform program.
Aside from the demands from the Three Waters reform, other sectors also need engineering professionals and skills. “The construction sector, in general, faces frequent challenges in delivering the proposed national pipeline of construction work, a situation exacerbated by frequent stresses and shocks, including operating in the post-Covid environment,” the article says.
New Zealand sectors have a high demand for engineers
An NZ recruitment-based agency provides a list of the following industries that need engineers for their pipeline of projects:
Land Development – within both residential and commercial projects. These are either redevelopment (brownfield projects) or developing new services/assets from undeveloped land (greenfield).
Transportation – looking towards a low emissions future. There is a high demand for redeveloping inner city roads and transport routes. This will give people more sustainable transport options, including public transportation and dedicated safe walking or cycleways. There is also strong demand within the Roads and Highways sector for developing safer, multi-lane expressways.
Coastal – mitigating threats to properties and infrastructure assets from rising sea levels. Also, there is a focus on the design of major infrastructure assets to future-proof a growing population and economy.
Environmental – as Kaitiaki (or protectors of our land and resources), significant importance is placed on protecting our environment and natural resources. Consideration and care in designing engineering solutions to protect against the environmental impact play into all project types. There is a focus on air, water, and land pollution control methods.
Water – major reform is on the horizon within our three water sectors. There is a substantial demand for engineers with skills in the design of water infrastructure assets. Assets include large water & wastewater treatment facilities, bulk water storage and dams, and water pipelines (new & existing). It also includes large and small sewers, stormwater, and supply assets focusing on reticulation.
The country’s struggle to produce and train engineers locally and fill the skills the industry needs forces them to look overseas and recruit them.
The Association of Consulting and Engineering New Zealand chief executive Helen Davidson, echoing Templer’s sentiments, says, “We need a stream of top talent joining our workforce so we can deliver the vital infrastructure and technology that Aotearoa needs.”
Chances of getting a job as an engineer in New Zealand
The country offers an excellent opportunity for skilled and talented engineers due to the shortage in the engineering profession.
New Zealand’s government website, Careers.govt.nz, notes, “Civil engineer, environmental engineer, geotechnical engineer, and structural engineer appear on Immigration New Zealand’s long-term skill shortage list. Civil and structural engineers also appear on Immigration New Zealand’s construction and infrastructure skill shortage list. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled engineers from overseas to work in New Zealand.”
Sources:
Heagney, G. (2023, October 13). Engineering industry calls for investment to solve drop off in skills. Stuff. Retrieved from https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/300988426/engineering-industry-calls-for-investment-to-solve-drop-off-in-skills
Wilkinson, S. & Cameron, R. (2022, December 22). Three Waters threatened by NZ’s critical shortage of skilled engineers. RNZ. Retrieved from https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/481387/three-waters-threatened-by-nz-s-critical-shortage-of-skilled-engineers
Wren, T. (2022, October 21). A Guide for Civil Engineers thinking of a move to New Zealand. Tyler Wren. Retrieved from https://tylerwren.co.nz/a-guide-for-civil-engineers-thinking-of-a-move-to-new-zealand
Civil Engineer. (2023). Careers.govt.nz. Retrieved from https://www.careers.govt.nz/jobs-database/engineering/engineering/civil-engineer/
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