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Useful experience for civil engineers includes:

• building, construction, roading or agriculture work
• environmental, draughting or surveying work
• practical work such as site investigations or geotechnical testing.

Civil engineers may do some or all of the following:

• consult with clients, government officials, contractors and other professionals on the requirements of each project
• decide if proposed construction and development sites are suitable
• plan and design structures such as roads, drainage systems, buildings, dams or wharves
• work out whether structures will be able to withstand the loads that will be placed on them by people, weather and other natural forces
• prepare reports, working drawings and specifications
• prepare cost estimates and evaluate the cost efficiency of projects
• assess environmental impacts of proposed developments
• get plans approved by relevant authorities and get building permits
• supervise construction to ensure structures are built correctly.

Shortage of civil engineers

Opportunities for civil engineers are good due to a shortage of workers, and high demand for their services.

Civil engineer, environmental engineer, geotechnical engineer, and structural engineer appear on Immigration New Zealand’s long-term skill shortage list. Civil engineer and structural engineer 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.

According to the Census, 8,430 civil engineers worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Range of factors contribute to demand for civil engineers

Demand for civil engineers is expected to remain strong due to:

• increased government investment in infrastructure such as roads, water collection, wastewater management and public buildings
• new environmental standards, which mean many local authorities have to upgrade their water infrastructure
• New Zealand's growing population, which means greater demand for new housing and new power-generating equipment and stations.

Types of employers varied

Civil engineers may work for:

• private engineering consultancies
• regional and local government authorities
• government agencies such as the New Zealand Transport Agency
• construction firms and property developers
• infrastructure and utility companies such as railway and electricity companies.

Engineering New Zealand

(04) 473 9444 - hello@engineeringnz.org - www.engineeringnz.org

NZIHT - School of Energy, Engineering and Infrastructure

0800 948869 - admin@witt.co.nz - www.witt.ac.nz

Civil engineers may progress to work as contractors, or focus on work such as:

• project management
• construction management
• planning
• estimation
• health and safety.

Civil engineers may also specialise in an area of civil engineering such as:

Coastal Engineer

Coastal engineers are involved in protection and erosion work along coasts and rivers. They design coastal structures such as sea walls, marinas and ports, and assess their environmental effects

Earthquake/Seismic Engineer

Earthquake/seismic engineers make structures, such as buildings and bridges, more resistant to earthquake damage.

Environmental Engineer

Environmental engineers assess the impact of engineering projects on water, soil, air and noise levels, and create ways to minimise this impact. They also plan and design systems to treat and remove waste.

Fire Engineer

Fire engineers advise people on how to apply fire safety features to buildings so that they meet the New Zealand Building Code. They also design features to help keep people and property safe in the event of a fire.

Geotechnical Engineer

Geotechnical engineers design the foundations of large structures, such as dams, tunnels, retaining walls or jetties, and assess how the soil and rock they are built on may affect them.

Quantity Surveyor

Quantity surveyors manage construction project finances. They calculate a budget based on their clients' requirements, and prepare detailed estimates to ensure the budget is sufficient for each stage of construction as the project develops.

Structural Engineer

Structural engineers analyse, design and manage the construction of a range of load-bearing structures such as houses, commercial buildings, sports stadiums, and bridges.

Transport Engineer

Transport engineers design, plan and supervise the building and repair of infrastructure such as roads, pavements, railways and tunnels. They may also research driver behaviour and transport safety and efficiency.

Water Resources Engineer

Water resources engineers design, organise and supervise the building and repair of structures such as dams, canals and irrigation systems. They also analyse natural waterflow systems such as streams, rivers and lakes, and work on urban drainage, flood and stormwater management projects.

• Environmental engineer job information
• Fire engineer job information
• Quantity surveyor job information

Civil engineers need to be:

• skilled at accurately analysing and interpreting information
• practical and logical, with good problem-solving skills
• good at communicating
• safety-conscious
• good at planning and organising
• creative and innovative, with good design skills
• able to work independently and in a team.