Bricklayer Career and Immigration options for Australia

Profile Title: Bricklayer Career and Immigration options for Australia

Alternative Title:Blocklayer

ANZSCO Code: 331111 | Unit Code: 3311

Skill Level: Level 3 | Work Experience: 1 Years

Assessing Bodies: Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)

Skill Occupation List (SOL): MLTSSL

Specialization: Arch Builder, Chimney Builder, Refractory Bricklayer, Retort Setter (Bricklaying), Tuckpointer

Profile Description: Lays bricks, pre-cut stone and other types of building blocks in mortar to construct and repair walls, partitions, arches and other structures. Registration or licensing may be required.

Job Duties:

• studying plans and specifications to determine materials required, dimensions and installation procedures
• erecting and dismantling restricted height scaffolding
• sealing foundations with damp-resistant materials and spreading layers of mortar to serve as base and binder for blocks using trowels
• laying bricks in rows, designs and shapes, and spreading mortar between joints
• embedding blocks in mortar and removing excess mortar
• checking vertical and horizontal alignment
• cutting, shaping and polishing stones and bricks using machines and hand tools, and shaping bricks to fit irregular spaces
• repairing and maintaining bricks, cement blocks and related structures
• designing and cutting monumental masonry and lettering
• constructing walls using stone slabs and large masonry slab blocks

Skill Level Description: Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with the qualifications and experience outlined below. In Australia: AQF Certificate III including at least two years of on-the-job training, or AQF Certificate IV (ANZSCO Skill Level 3) In New Zealand: NZ Register Level 4 qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 3) At least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualifications listed above. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification. Registration or licensing may be required.

Available Visa Options (As on February 2024):

• 186 - Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)
• 189 - Skilled Independent (subclass 189) - Points-Tested
• 190 - Skilled Nominated (subclass 190)
• 407 - Training visa (subclass 407)
• 485 - Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) - Graduate Work
• 489 - Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) - Family sponsored
• 489 - Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) - State or Territory nominated
• 482 - Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) – Medium Term Stream
• 187 - Regional Sponsor Migration Scheme (subclass 187)
• 494 - Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) (subclass 494) - Employer sponsored stream
• 491 - Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491) State or Territory nominated
• 491 - Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491) Family Sponsored

Registration or Licensing: may be required

Industries: Bricklayers and Stonemasons are mainly employed in: Construction; Manufacturing; and Administrative and Support Services

Education Profile: The most common level of educational attainment for Bricklayers and Stonemasons is Certificate III/IV (73.9 per cent).

Job Opening: Over the five years to November 2019, the number of job openings for Bricklayers and Stonemasons is expected to be average (between 10,001 and 25,000). Job openings count both employment growth and turnover (defined as workers leaving their occupation for other employment or leaving the workforce).

Age Group: The main age group is 45-54 years (24.0 per cent) and the median age is 41 years (compared to 40 years for all occupations).

Gender: Almost all Bricklayers and Stonemasons are male and 90.7 per cent of Bricklayers and Stonemasons work full time. Average weekly hours for full time workers are 39.4 (compared to 40.2 for all occupations).

Earning: In August 2014 (latest available data) weekly earnings full-time before tax (and not including employer superannuation) were $1,200 (compared to earnings for all occupations of $1,200).

Employment: Employment for this occupation fell slightly in the past five years and remained relatively steady in the long-term (ten years). Looking forward, employment for Bricklayers and Stonemasons to November 2020 is expected to grow moderately.