Construction project managers plan, organise, direct, control and co-ordinate the construction of civil engineering projects,

1. ƔƔ How to become a construction project manager
Construction project managers plan, organise, direct, control
and co-ordinate the construction of civil engineering projects,
buildings and dwellings, and the physical and human resources
involved in building and construction.
Qualifications needed
Construction project managers require extensive experience in
the construction industry. The job typically also requires one of
the following qualifications:
• a civil engineering degree
• a building qualification
• a construction management diploma
• a quantity surveying qualification.
Useful secondary school subjects include English, maths and
technical drawing. Year 11 and 12 students can learn about the
construction industry and gain relevant skills by doing a National
Certificate in Building, Construction and Allied Trades (Levels 1
and 2) through the BConstructive programme.
For Year 11 to 13 students, the Gateway programme is also a good
way to gain industry experience.
→→ BConstructive website: bconstructive.co.nz/
→→ Information on Gateway programme:
www.bcito.org.nz/schools/gateway-programme
Cost of study
National Diploma of Construction Management (Level 6)
$13,300 over two years (full-time)
Average costs in 2015 for a domestic student. Costs vary between
institutions. Further costs include materials, textbooks, and
accommodation.
Rents vary from place to place. Estimated market rents by re-
gion, city and suburb are available on the MBIE Tenancy Services
website.
The StudyLink website provides general budget advice for
students, and the Sorted website provides help with detailed
budget planning.
→→ Tenancy Services: www.tenancy.govt.nz/rent-bond-and-bills
→→ StudyLink: www.studylink.govt.nz/
→→ Sorted: www.sorted.org.nz/calculators/money-planner
Licensing
As part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employ-
ment’s Licensed Building Practitioners Scheme (and since March
2012), certain building work has had to be carried out or overseen
by a licensed building and construction manager. To get a licence,
building or construction managers have to prove their experi-
ence and/or have appropriate qualifications.
→→ Licensed Building Practitioners Rules:
www.business.govt.nz/lbp
Completed qualifications
Completions of Level 5 to 7 diplomas in building construction
management have fallen in the latest year, from 185 in 2013 to
130 in 2014 (down 30%).
Source: Ministry of Education
ƔƔ Income and employment prospects
Income
In 2014, the average income for construction project manager
was $68,800.
Estimated average income
$68,800
Average income estimated from Statistics New Zealand’s Census 2013.
Graduates with diplomas in building earned $34,900 one year
after their study ended. After five years, income had increased
to $50,500.
Numberofstudents
completingqualification
0
100
200
300
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Building Construction Management - Level 5-7 Diploma
CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT MANAGERS JOB PROSPECTS
- +
FEES
- +
INCOME
- +
JOB PROSPECTS Prospects for construction project managers are strong. Increased
demand for skilled workers continues to be led by the Canterbury
rebuild, and Auckland. Other regions also have demand with an
improving commercial building sector, and large roading and
infrastructure projects.
At a glance
CONSTRUCTION & INFRASTRUCTURE

2. Median earnings after qualification completion
One year Two years Five years
$34,900 $39,100 $50,500
Source: Ministry of Education
Employment and skill shortages
Construction project managers’ employment
Current Projected growth*
2013 2014 2014–19 2019–24
30,000 32,100
up 7.0%
1.9%
per year
0.2%
per year
* Growth projections are for the broader category of “Construction,
Distribution and Production Managers”.
Source: MBIE Estimates
Construction project manager (roading and infrastructure), with
a minimum of five years’ experience, appears on Immigration
New Zealand’s intermediate skill shortage list, indicating the
government is actively encouraging skilled workers in those
occupations to work in New Zealand. A full skill shortage list is
available on the Immigration New Zealand website.
→→ Immigration NZ, skill shortage list:
skillshortages.immigration.govt.nz
Where to find job vacancies
The number of online job vacancies for construction managers
increased slightly from September 2014 to September 2015 - up
by 2%. This compares with an overall increase of 1.9% for all
vacancies over the same period.
Vacancies for construction project managers are advertised
through public media such as the Trade Me Jobs and Seek
websites.
→→ Trade Me Jobs: www.trademe.co.nz/jobs
→→ Seek: www.seek.co.nz
Career path
Construction project managers need extensive experience in the
construction industry. Some experienced project managers also
start up their own building and construction companies.
ƔƔ Other information
Links
More information on construction managers is available on the
Careers New Zealand website.
→→ Careers New Zealand: www.careers.govt.nz
CONSTRUCTION & INFRASTRUCTURE
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS
Employment
Estimate Forecast
0
20,000
40,000
2009 2014 2019 2024