Asian economy is bouncing back from the pandemic-induced lull, leading to a spike in construction jobs, too. Infrastructure spending is rising across Asia, and China is on track to become home to the world’s largest construction industry. Without a doubt, this translates to a rising demand for many roles, and brings lots of opportunities for building a successful career in construction.
If we take Singapore, six new MRT stations began operations in August 2021, and 23 stations are in the works, with a delivery date of 2030. Meanwhile, the second stage of the city-state’s Deep Tunnel Sewerage System is due for completion by 2025.
Read on for the lowdown on the sector’s positive outlook, construction jobs we are seeing the most demand for, as well as some tips for successfully navigating a career in construction.
Buoyant outlook
Coming out of the pandemic, governments and the private sector across Asia are increasing spending on construction. Not only do they have a backlog of projects to implement, they need to ramp up activity to meet the future needs of the region’s rapidly developing population. The projects were delayed because of restrictions brought in to control the pandemic and issues with supply of building materials.
Governments are focused on public transport, affordable housing, healthcare facilities, and energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, private sector projects, like Ikea’s newly constructed first mall store in Indonesia and GuocoLand’s 18T luxury residences in Chongqing, are springing up across Asia.
China Real Estate
Though the financial woes of Chinese property group Evergrande have been in the headlines, Beijing has implemented prudent policies to promote the steady development of the real estate sector, and the infrastructure outlook remains undimmed. The government aims to double the size of the country’s high-speed rail system, for instance. This bodes well for Singapore firms engaged in mainland China business. A case in point is China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City, a joint project that encompasses the building of a new, smart urban centre with a planned population of around 1,000,000 people as part of the Greater Bay Area’s development.
Singapore
The construction sector made up 2.7% of Singapore’s nominal GDP in 2020, and is forecast to expand. The sector is projected to grow 8.1% through 2022, and then expand 3.3% through 2025, according to Research and Markets. This growth trajectory points to construction jobs security and more opportunities for career development.
While demand for retail and residential developments has lost some steam, we’re seeing rising demand for office re-stacking and repurposing as firms consolidate hybrid working models.
“To address a backlog of projects, severe labour shortages and lower productivity, all players across the value chain will need to work together to integrate and digitalise processes, upskill workers and uplift the capabilities of the entire Built Environment sector,” UK-headquartered construction consultant from Turner & Townsend says of Singapore.
In-demand Construction Jobs
On the back of construction sector growth, driven by the trends noted, we are seeing demand rise for the following construction jobs.
- Architects and Engineers
- Commercial Directors and Contract Managers
- Construction Managers and Planner
- Estimators and Quantity Surveyors
- Project Managers, Site Managers, and more.
Top Tips for Building a Successful Career in Construction
Think long-term
Because of the rapid changes taking place in construction, including the increasing importance of green construction practices (read our recent blog on green careers in sustainable real estate here), and digitalisation, it pays to take a long-term approach to future-proof your career.
Plot your career path
Landing your next job is one thing; having a well-thought-out, thoroughly researched career plan is another. For every role, there is a career trajectory, but some take longer to build up to than others. For example, people in management roles can climb to manage an entire company, whereas practical and technical construction jobs are sometimes subject to a ceiling. Knowing these challenges and opportunities best places candidates to get to where they want to be.
Evaluate your skills
Some construction jobs have emerged only in the past five or 10 years, and other roles will become increasingly obsolete as technology advances. Being prepared for these future changes will make you a much more desirable candidate and provide greater job security. Upskilling may require additional qualifications or moving sideways into a different role to gain practical experience.
Partner with a recruiter
It is the recruiter’s job to keep their finger on the sector’s pulse. They speak with construction businesses and candidates, so are a great source of knowledge. A reputable recruiter will be well placed to give you valuable career advice, will point out the pathways for your career development, and market you to the top construction businesses.
The construction sector is an exciting and varied field, one that’s destined for continued growth. For a no-obligation chat about construction opportunities across Asia, get in touch with our team today, sign up for our hot jobs alerts and follow us on social media.
