Top 10 in-demand shipyard jobs for South Australia

Here are the top ten shipyard jobs that will be in demand in SA on the Future Subs and Future Frigates for the next two years.

Designers, boilermakers and software engineers are among the top 10 shipbuilding jobs needed in South Australia over the next two years.

Defence giants Naval Group and BAE Systems have named the most in-demand occupations they will need as they prepare for construction to begin on the $89 billion Future Submarines and $45 billion Future Frigates in Adelaide.

About 2850 direct jobs are needed across the two mega projects by 2025 and 4730 workers will be needed by 2030, according to the Defence Department’s workforce estimates.

Designers across several fields, including mechanical, electrical, piping and structural, are the most in-demand workers at this stage, according to the Naval Shipbuilding College, the government body charged with building the local workforce.

Apprentice boilermaker Anika Ford is training to work on the Future Submarines, and is currently working at steel fabrication business Grant and Sons at Edinburgh. Picture: Tom Huntley

Integrated logistics support roles were the next most required jobs at present, to support and optimise the design and build of the Attack class subs and Hunter class frigates.

Trades including boilermakers, sheetmetal workers, pipe fitters and welders were the third most in-demand roles.

Software engineers, combat systems engineers, systems engineers and structural engineers were also included in the top 10 jobs at this phase, followed by mechanical fitters, production quality control officials and mechanical engineers.

Apprentice boilermaker Anika Ford, one of 20 young South Australians in Naval Group’s first cohort of apprentices, said she was excited about the prospect of working on submarines.

“I didn’t really want to do an office job, so I branched out and tried to find some new pathways,” the 17-year-old said.

With construction of the first sub expected to begin in 2024, Naval Group Australia chief executive John Davis said: “Young people who are currently in school have the chance to start a career in submarines which can last them until retirement”.

An artist's impression of the BAE Systems’ SEA 5000 Future Frigate. Picture: Supplied

Craig Lockhart, managing director of BAE Systems’ maritime Australia program, urged students to take up science, technology, engineering and maths subjects, given the number of hi-tech careers in shipbuilding.

Roles in engineering, project management, planning, finance, IT and human resources were currently in demand for the frigates.

“From 2022, as the program prepares to cut steel on the first anti-submarine warfare frigate, demand for production and tradespeople will increase,” Mr Lockhart said.

That includes welders, electricians, pipe fitters, pipe welders, mechanical fitters, operators, riggers, scaffolders and production supervisors.