Advanced trade, technical and professional qualifications – matching supply to demand
There is a limited number of areas where it is clear that increasing the number of people with trade, technical or professional qualifications would definitely reduce skill shortages. These areas are in engineering, building and medical professions. Demand in these areas has been driven by increased use of technology, increased construction activity and increased demand for health services. In other areas examined in the report, improving the quality and relevance of qualifications is likely to be as important, or even more important, than increasing the number of people graduating.
This is report is the second in a series of three reports looking at the supply of and demand for advanced trade, technical and professional qualifications. The first report, looking at demand for qualifications is available on Education Counts.
Author: David Earle [Ministry of Education]Date Published: July 2008
7 - Building
The first report identified unmet demand for people with qualifications in building. Demand was identified at bachelors and diploma level for building surveyors and draughters. Considerable demand was evident in the building trades for people with diplomas and level 4 certificates in building. This demand is largely driven by growth in the construction industry.
7.1 Match of qualifications to occupation
People with a building qualification are much more likely to work as trades workers and physical science and engineering associate professionals, and less likely to work in other occupations, than people with qualifications at the same level in other fields.
Figure 7.1 shows there is a good match of people with level 4 certificates to the trades worker occupations. People with diplomas in building are most likely to work as either trades workers or as draughters and surveyors (part of physical science and engineering associate professionals). People with bachelors degrees are more likely to work as draughters and surveyors, and also as trades workers and managers.
7.2 Unemployment
Figure 7.2 shows that males with building qualifications are less likely to be unemployed than people with qualifications in other fields. However, females with building qualifications are more likely to be unemployed than people with qualifications in other fields. Unemployment rates are lower for people with diplomas. However, rates are slightly higher for people with bachelors and above.
7.3 Income
There is good evidence of premiums being paid for people with building qualifications across management, professional and associate professional occupations.
Figure 7.3 shows that people with building qualifications earn more than others with the same level of qualification if they work in management, professions or associate professions. They earn about the same as others in the trades, with the exception of bachelors holders, who earn slightly more.
Figure 7.1: Are people with building qualifications more likely to work in related occupations?
Compared with people with the same level of qualification in other fields.
Figure 7.2: Are people with building qualifications more likely to be unemployed?
Compared with people with the same level of qualification in other fields.
Figure 7.3: Are people with building qualifications likely to earn more?
Compared with people with the same level of qualification in other fields.
Likelihood of earning more than $50,000 a year for certificates and diplomas and more than $70,000 for bachelors and above.