Delivering Net Zero Infrastructure: Workforce Report

The infrastructure workforce of today needs to be capable of delivering impactful decarbonisation activities to achieve net zero ambitions

Australia has committed to reaching net zero by 2050.  Infrastructure will be a critical enabler of the energy transition, with investment in energy infrastructure projected to increase six-fold over the next five years.¹ The sector is also a significant emitter in its own right —currently, infrastructure and buildings are directly responsible for almost one third of Australia’s total carbon emissions, and indirectly responsible for over half of all emissions.²

As Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) pointed out in its seminal Clean Energy Generation report, ambitious workforce and skills policies are needed to achieve our net zero targets. JSA’s report provided the first definition of Australia’s clean energy workforce, with infrastructure acknowledged as an enabling sector supporting the national energy transition. It also identified a range of broad policy settings and structural changes needed to reach net zero by 2050. 

Building on the scene set by JSA, it is important to consider the role of the infrastructure sector and what it means to achieve net zero in infrastructure (referred as Net Zero Infrastructure hereafter).  This subject has been explored in the March 2025 report by the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), A solid foundation: A common definition for net zero infrastructure and how to get there.

However, there is currently no consistent and agreed definition of the workforce and skills needed to decarbonise infrastructure projects. To address this gap, the Infrastructure Net Zero initiative with ASBEC commissioned this report to: 

• Identify and quantify the ‘Net Zero Infrastructure workforce’ – that is, the workers who currently have responsibilities that contribute to reducing infrastructure project emissions.
• Assess emissions reduction potential across the infrastructure asset lifecycle by project stages (design, plan, construct, and operations and maintenance).
• Prioritise occupations based on their impact on reducing project emissions and identify related skilling challenges. 

This report identifies the subset of roles, occupations and skills that currently contribute to reducing emissions across the asset lifecycle (across planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance) within the broader infrastructure workforce. It provides a picture of the current status quo, marking a starting point from which governments and industry will need to accelerate workforce supply and capability efforts in pursuit of Net Zero Infrastructure by 2050.

It is this current workforce, adequately upskilled, that will be actioning current and future Net Zero Infrastructure targets. The policy and technology landscape will continue to evolve over the next three decades as we progress along our decarbonisation maturity curve, and today’s workforce will need to be upskilled accordingly. Industry, government and training and education sectors will need to work closely to ensure respective net zero actions are coordinated and complementary to boost the pool of workers and uplift their capability. 

Work is already underway, for example, infrastructure and transport ministers across the country have created the Infrastructure Decarbonisation Working Group (under the auspices of the Infrastructure and Transport Ministers’ Meeting) to progress the decarbonisation of infrastructure and transport.  Further to this, the Australian Government is developing net zero plans that cut across other sectors with an infrastructure component (such as the built environment, energy and resources). 

While over half of the current infrastructure workforce contribute to decarbonisation efforts, more can be done to engage the rest 

130,000 infrastructure workers are currently engaged in activities that contribute to reducing infrastructure project emissions (‘Net Zero Infrastructure workforce’).  

This cohort comprises 105,000 workers already engaged in the infrastructure sector as defined by Infrastructure Australia across a wide range of roles – as engineers, scientists, architects, project managers, technicians, trades workers and labourers.³ Together, they represent 53% of the current infrastructure workforce.

An additional 25,000 workers not captured in the above group also contribute to decarbonising project delivery, such as Economists, Financial/Cost Controllers and Policy Professionals. 

With only half of the current infrastructure workforce contributing to net zero outcomes, there is significant opportunity to extend awareness and responsibility of decarbonisation efforts across the rest of the workforce.

White collar roles have a higher impact on reducing emissions, and carry varying workforce challenges 

The Net Zero Infrastructure workforce can be split into five occupational groups based on their impact on reducing overall project emissions and distinct workforce challenges, of which three groups are identified as having the highest impact:

• Concentrated Points of Vulnerability: Environmental Experts and Engineering Managers— influence emissions reduction outcomes during the upfront project planning stage as well as other stages of the lifecycle.  Compared to the other occupations analysed, net zero skill requirements for these roles are relatively established. The key workforce challenges are to ensure sufficient supply and monitor evolving industry needs and technical changes that may require workforce upskilling.
• High Impact Potential: Economists, Financial/Cost Controllers, Policy and Procurement Specialists — are ‘non-typical infrastructure’ roles that support key decarbonisation efforts.⁴ A low percentage of job advertisements for these roles specify net zero skills, however demand is growing. The key challenge for this group is to upskill workers with specific construction knowledge needed to maximise net zero outcomes in the sector.
• High Demand and Many to Upskill: Construction Managers, Architects, Engineers and Technicians — are ‘typical infrastructure’ roles with a high impact on reducing emissions across various project stages. This is a large and diverse group of workers representing almost 40% of the workforce with high demand growth for net zero skills. The key workforce challenge is to upskill a broad range of occupations in net zero skills from a low base.

Collectively, the high impact occupations account for almost two thirds of the Net Zero Infrastructure workforce and comprise exclusively of white-collar professionals. 

The remaining two occupational groups, although necessary to broader infrastructure delivery, are assessed as having moderate to low impact on net zero outcomes. They comprise predominantly technical experts, trades workers and labourers with a heavy focus on construction stage activities.  While there is high competition and unmet demand for these roles, there is relatively low demand for net zero specific skills compared to the high impact occupations.  

Stakeholders across governments, industry and education and training sectors will need to work together to address workforce challenges 

Given the diverse range of occupations and skills contributing to reducing emissions in infrastructure delivery, stakeholders will need to work together, at both national and state and territory levels, to address workforce challenges identified in this report.

Four recommendations are proposed to build workforce capacity. These recommendations leverage initiatives and mechanisms currently underway to achieve Net Zero Infrastructure and can be commenced immediately. See Table 1.

Other factors outside the scope of this work will have significant impact on the speed and success of decarbonisation efforts 

This report is identifying the workers and skills that currently contribute to reducing infrastructure project emissions. Findings are based on the assessment of the workforce and skills demand as it currently stands, and provides a baseline for the growing industry capacity needed to reach 2050 net zero targets.

Stakeholders note that other factors outside the scope of this work will also have significant impact on decarbonisation outcomes for the sector. These include impact on the regional communities pivotal to the energy transition, supply chain readiness particularly of low carbon construction materials, and emerging and future skills as industry, policies and technologies evolve over the next three decades. Future workforce initiatives should also seek to address these considerations identified as having significant impact on the speed and success of net zero efforts.

All governments across Australia have now committed to a net zero future. At the national level, the Net Zero Plan will guide our transition towards the legislated target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 

It will be supported by six decarbonisation sectoral plans, currently underway, to capture emission reductions across the full breadth of the economy.  Similar polices and plans now exist in every state and territory to reach net zero by 2050, if not earlier.

As JSA pointed out in its seminal Clean Energy Generation report, ambitious workforce and skills policies are needed to achieve our net zero targets. JSA’s report provided the first definition of Australia’s clean energy workforce, with infrastructure acknowledged as an enabling sector supporting the national energy transition. It also identified a range of broad policy settings and structural changes needed to reach net zero by 2050. 

Building on the scene set by JSA, this report takes a more granular look at the workforce needed to decarbonise infrastructure as a key emitting sector. It identifies the roles, occupations and skills that currently contributes to reducing emissions across the asset lifecycle (across planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance).  This report provides a picture of the current status quo, marking a starting point from which governments and industry will need to accelerate workforce supply and capability efforts in pursuit of Net Zero Infrastructure targets.

Decarbonising infrastructure delivery supports economy wide net zero ambitions

Currently, infrastructure and buildings are directly responsible for almost one third of Australia’s total carbon emissions, and indirectly responsible for over half of all emissions. Decarbonising the infrastructure sector will make a meaningful contribution to meeting national emissions reductions targets and play an important role in our nation’s net zero transition, both as a high emitting sector in itself and as an enabling sector critical to decarbonising other parts of the economy. 

On transport infrastructure for example, the Australian Government has committed to reducing emissions by investing in projects that promote integrated and sustainable land use, supporting industry changes to advance decarbonisation and working with state and territory governments to promote the use of lower emissions construction materials and transport technologies. It is also developing the Transport and Net Zero Infrastructure Roadmap— one of six sectoral emissions reductions plans setting out the pathway to reach Australia’s net zero target by 2050.  

All governments are actively working together to progress the decarbonisation agenda across infrastructure, which is now a key priority for infrastructure and transport ministers across the country.  This includes commitments to reduce embodied emissions through the delivery of land transport infrastructure (via the Federation Funding Agreement Schedule on Land Transport Infrastructure) and progressing nationally consistent policies under the auspices of Infrastructure and Transport Ministers’ Meetings to quantify the economic impacts of carbon emissions and measure whole-of-life carbon in transport infrastructure project proposals.  

Work is also currently in train to set out the pathway to net zero across other key infrastructure related sectors including housing, energy and resources.

The emerging need for a skilled infrastructure workforce to support the net zero transition

The infrastructure sector will need a workforce with the skills to reshape how it plans, designs, builds and operates assets to deliver on the net zero agenda. 

In recognition of the skills challenges ahead, governments have started turning attention to preparing the workforce needed to maximise opportunities from the net zero transition. For example, the Australian Government is developing a National Energy Workforce Strategy to create a skilled workforce across clean energy supply and demand and enabling occupations. The recently established Net Zero Economy Authority is working to smooth transitions and create new opportunities for affected workers and communities in emissions-intensive industries, particularly in regional areas where these sectors are often concentrated, via initiatives such as the Net Zero Jobs Plan, the Energy Jobs Plan, and the Regional Workforce Transition Plans. 

However, these net zero related workforce initiatives are primarily targeted at the energy transition with infrastructure captured as an enabling sector, rather than a high emitting sector that will need to fundamentally change the way it does its business.

New training initiatives have been recently established with aims to deliver a workforce that meets emerging industry skills needs 

The education and training sector has recognised the need to uplift net zero skills and related competencies by the construction workforce. Several targeted initiatives around the country have been recently established to address this need, for example:  

• The Western Australian Clean Energy Skills National Centre for Excellence (commenced in December 2024) will design and deliver training in clean energy science, engineering, construction, and operation in support of Western Australia’s clean energy transformation. It is co-funded by the Australian and Western Australian governments through the National Skills Agreement and Turbocharging TAFE Centres of Excellence measure.
• Melbourne Polytechnic’s Clean Economy Skills Lab for Residential Building and Construction (announced August 2024), funded by the Victorian Government, aims to equip workers with expertise in emerging sustainable development and clean energy fields.  It will work with industry and TAFE partners to co-design new approaches for skills development, aligned with industry directions and projected need.
• In New South Wales, the Institute of Applied Technology Construction (opened in February 2024) is focused on future innovations and leadership in Construction. Working in collaboration with TAFE NSW, Western Sydney University, and CPB Contractors, it aims to design and deliver market-leading training rapidly adapts to industry needs. It currently offers a range of short courses on sustainability.

Most of these initiatives are currently at the initial stages of needs definition and testing market demand for new or updated training offerings.

Laying the groundwork for infrastructure workforce decarbonisation

This report, produced as part of the Infrastructure Net Zero initiative, marks the first steps towards better understanding the workforce required to decarbonise infrastructure projects. Given the lack of robust demand data and the emerging nature of this field, the analysis focuses on identifying the current workforce and activities that support net zero outcomes across the infrastructure lifecycle, as well as industry demand for the skills needed to reduce project emissions.

Wider efforts to decarbonise the industry across the supply chain and in particular, construction materials, which will also have significant impacts on reducing total infrastructure emissions, are outside the scope of this study.

This report defines and quantifies the current ‘Net Zero Infrastructure workforce’– that is, the workers currently with responsibilities that contribute to reducing project emissions.

First, a list of activities that contribute to reducing emissions was identified across the asset lifecycle (planning, design, construction and operations and maintenance). These activities fall into four broad categories: carbon economics and government, procurement and material sourcing, material and waste usage, and energy demand. 

The identified activities were then mapped to 36 occupations (based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations classification) and a wide range of roles that form the Net Zero Infrastructure workforce.

Finally, online job advertisements for the identified roles were analysed to assess the demand for skills that contribute to decarbonising (over the five-year period 2018-19 to 2023-24).

Net zero activities are identified 

Based on literature reviews and consultations with stakeholders, 23 net zero activities were identified across four broad categories: Carbon Economics and Governance, Procurement and Materials Sourcing, Material and Waste Usage, and Energy Demand. These activities were also mapped to infrastructure lifecycle stages: planning, design, construction and operations and maintenance. Figure 1 outlines Net Zero Infrastructure activities identified in this study.

Figure 1: Identified activities that contribute directly to Net Zero Infrastructure outcomes

Net zero activities are mapped to roles and occupations

The identified net zero activities were mapped to occupations based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupation (ANZSCO) definitions. A total of 36 occupations were identified as undertaking activities that contribute to reducing infrastructure emissions. Of the occupations identified, 28 are identified as part of the infrastructure workforce and eight are ‘net zero specific’ occupations which would otherwise not be engaged by the infrastructure sector.⁸

Specific roles undertaken by each occupation were then identified across project lifecycle stages, which enabled assessment of the extent of their potential impact to reduce emissions. For example, engineering managers are engaged across the project planning, design and construction stages and thus have three roles. Electricians are engaged in the construction and operations and maintenance stages and have only two roles in the project lifecycle. 

Table 2: List of Net Zero Infrastructure workforce occupations and roles

Net zero skills demand was analysed based on job advertisements

Analysis of job advertisements for Net Zero Infrastructure roles highlighted a range of ‘net zero specific’ skills that contribute directly to decarbonisation outcomes and more general ‘net zero enabling’ skills in demand. While the specific skills challenge varies depending on the occupation, ‘environmental science’ and ‘renewable energy’ skills are most in demand, requested in 18% and 17% all Net Zero Infrastructure job advertisements respectively (between 2018-19 to 2023-24).  See Table 3. 

In addition to net zero skills, stakeholders note there continues to be demand for general skills such as digital skills and, leadership and communication skills. Further analysis of general skills demand however is not within the scope of this study. 

Table 3: Top 25 most requested net zero specific and net zero enabling skills

130,000 workers are estimated to be engaged in the Net Zero Infrastructure workforce

Infrastructure workforce outlined in Section 2, there is an estimated 130,000 workers in occupations currently engaged in activities that contribute to the decarbonisation of infrastructure delivery, comprising of:

• 105,000 workers in the infrastructure sector that contribute to net zero outcomes -these workers represent approximately half (53%) of the total 198,000 infrastructure workforce.
• 25,000 ‘net zero specific workers’ that contribute to net zero outcomes and that would otherwise not be involved in infrastructure.¹⁰
  These roles include policy managers and financial/cost controllers who are not typically captured under the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) construction industry classification.

Figure 2: Estimated engaged workforce supply for Net Zero Infrastructure workforce, as at August 2024

Workers contributing to net zero outcomes who would otherwise not be involved in infrastructure. These roles include for example, policy managers and accountants who are not typically captured under the ANZSIC construction industry classification.

Half of the current infrastructure workforce contributes to net zero,  more can be done to engage the rest  

While approximately half of the current 198,000 infrastructure workforce are engaged in activities that contribute to net zero outcomes, the level of involvement varies by occupations. 

Engineering, Scientists, and Architects and Labourers are already heavily involved in net zero related activities (90% and 87% respectively), while 64% of Project Management Professionals and 32% of Technicians and Trades Workers currently working in infrastructure engage in net zero activities. It should be noted that while only approximately a third of Technicians and Trades Workers engage in net zero related activities, this translates to 36,700 workers due to the sheer size of this cohort. See Figure 3.

With only half of the current infrastructure workforce contributing to net zero outcomes, there is a significant opportunity to extend awareness and responsibility of decarbonisation efforts across the rest of the workforce.

Figure 3: Percentage of infrastructure workers engaged in net zero activities by occupational groups

Engineers, Scientists and Architects have higher representation in the Net Zero Infrastructure workforce 

Infrastructure sector professionals (Engineers, Scientists and Architects) represent almost a third of the Net Zero Infrastructure workforce, compared to only 23% of the wider infrastructure workforce.

By occupational groups, the current 130,000 Net Zero Infrastructure workforce comprises:  

• 30% infrastructure sector Engineers, Scientists and Architects
• 20% Net Zero Specific professionals (e.g. Financial/Cost Controllers, Economists, Policy Professionals)
• 29% Finishing Trades and Labour
• 10% Project Managers
• 11% Structures and Civil Trades, Technicians and Labour

It should be noted that this section assesses only the volume of net zero related activities each occupation is engaged in, while the sections below analyse the potential impact of those occupations in getting infrastructure assets to net zero.

Supply of workers is expected to increase steadily, however demand remains unquantified

The Net Zero Infrastructure workforce is expected to grow to 200,000 by 2030, following a period of slight decline between 2023-2024. This short-term contraction likely reflects a normalisation of workforce dynamics after a temporary surge in supply from 2020 to 2023 due to COVID-19 impacts, which included delayed retirements and workforce re-entry.  

Figure 4: Estimated engaged INZ workforce projected to 2030

Historical Estimates from ABS Labour Force Survey and Census. We triangulate these datasets to segment labour supply into more granular regional and occupational splits.

Projections are based on workforce entrants from training and migration and exits from retirement modelling. We then apply a population growth factor to estimate supply to 2030.

On its path to net zero, the infrastructure workforce will need to reassess and potentially redesign many activities across the asset lifecycle. To inform and guide future decisions for workforce development, this section identifies the most impactful occupations needed to decarbonise infrastructure delivery. It focuses on early stages of an asset’s lifecycle where there is greatest potential for impact, including the planning, design, construction, and operational stages of infrastructure projects.

For each stage of the project lifecycle, key activities which drive decarbonisation outcomes are defined and then mapped against occupations, and the associated skills in demand outlined. Only activities that impact operational and embodied emissions are captured.

Findings in this section are informed by desktop research validated through consultation with industry experts. See Appendix for a detailed methodology. 

Planning stage: setting carbon management expectations

Decisions made during the planning stage of a project are crucial for shaping its overall carbon management strategy. During this stage, high-impact decisions are made, such as monetising and evaluating the emissions of different infrastructure options with the potential to optimise existing infrastructure or invest in building new assets. When new infrastructure is needed, the planning stage provides an opportunity to understand the social cost of emissions and set clear objectives for carbon management, after which decisions can be made to lower emissions output at each stage of the project. 

Figure 4: Estimated engaged INZ workforce projected to 2030

During consultation, stakeholders stressed the importance of embedding net zero considerations during this stage of project delivery. Government representatives highlighted the need to account for the cost of carbon emissions in the project business case to enable informed and sustainable decision-making. Meanwhile, industry stakeholders highlighted the value of setting clear low-carbon procurement criteria to incentivise low-carbon solutions and more broadly, provide certainty for investment in these solutions.

Policy, planning, accounting and economics experts should adapt to meet technical challenges

Effective decision making during the planning stage relies on a blend of technical and analytical expertise. For example, while decarbonisation is a key project goal, achieving it can be hindered by factors such as budget constraints, limited access to low-carbon materials or technologies, or stakeholder resistance. Balancing these pressures requires flexible planning and strong governance. Feedback from consultations emphasised the need to incorporate these skills into traditionally non-technical roles to strengthen governance and support informed decisions. Professionals in areas such as policy, planning, accounting, and economics were encouraged to adapt their expertise to better address technical challenges.

Examples of the different occupations involved during the planning stage include: 

• Policy and Planning Managers are involved in most activities, working with technical advisors in setting the carbon management direction.
• Economists prepare economic analysis including monetising the social impact of emissions to support decision making.
• Environmental Engineers and Scientists inform procurement criteria and carbon management and assessment activities.
• Architects and Engineers inform energy efficiency specifications and designs for effective material selection and waste minimisation.
• Contract, Program and Project Administrators work across carbon emissions and energy efficiency related activities.
• Construction Managers inform carbon management and assessment criteria, ensuring specifications can be feasibly delivered.

A complete list of occupations can be found below:

Design stage: defining whole-of-life carbon 

Decisions made during the design stage specify the extent of infrastructure built, materials used, and how a facility operates throughout its life. These decisions have far-reaching implications for whole-of-life emissions—influencing emission outputs during construction, operation, and decommissioning phases. Adopting low-carbon design strategies, such as low-build solutions, smart design practices and the use of sustainable materials, offers significant potential for reducing emissions. To maximise impact, benchmarks and standards, including rating tools and relevant policies, should be consistently applied throughout all design activities.

Engineers, Scientists and Architects must deepen expertise in low carbon solutions to maximise impact on project delivery 

Engineers, Scientists, and Architects play a critical role, with many high-carbon impact decisions placed on these professionals in this stage.

Stakeholder feedback highlighted the importance of Engineers and Architects developing a deeper understanding of low carbon solutions and integrating these systematically into decision-making, alongside traditional considerations such as safety, accessibility, and cost. It was also highlighted through consultation that data and digital specialists may be involved during this stage, for reporting, data management, and opportunities leveraging digital engineering for carbon estimation and management.

Examples of the different occupations involved during the design stage include:

• Architects, Electrical, and Civil Engineering Professionals are involved in all decarbonisation activities with the ability to make design decisions that prioritise low-carbon approaches across all elements of an infrastructure project.
• Financial/Cost Controllers and Economists support Architects and Engineers to quantify the carbon emissions output of design options.
• Environmental Engineers support activities such as carbon modelling and materials selection.
• Construction Managers support Architects and Engineers in understanding the down-stream implications of design options and ensure designs can be feasibly delivered. 

A complete list of occupations can be found below:

Construction stage: delivering on low-carbon solutions

The extent that a project achieves its decarbonisation targets is dependent on whether it is built in accordance with what is specified in the design. During the construction stage, the greatest opportunities for reducing emissions come from procurement, including the sourcing of materials and decisions regarding waste. Setting expectations upfront ensures that desired outcomes are achieved.

Stakeholders highlighted two key priorities during this stage:

• Aligning procurement criteria with decarbonisation targets and moving beyond simply selecting delivery partners based on the lowest cost.
• Setting realistic specifications for low-carbon materials. 

Many stakeholders noted that while low-carbon materials are available, they often lack the scale needed for large infrastructure projects. This challenge underscores the need for more comprehensive upfront planning and strategic direction across industry to ensure these materials can be scaled effectively.

Environmental advisory roles shifting from compliance to education and stewardship in decarbonisation

During this stage, project management professionals play a key role by implementing design and procurement specifications, supported by environmental engineers and sustainability advisors. Industry feedback noted potential challenges arising from ambiguity and a lack of standardisation in low-carbon expectations.

Stakeholders also noted a shift in environmental advisory roles, such as Environmental Engineers and Sustainability Advisors moving from a compliance focus to playing a greater role in education and stewardship—pushing organisations to better incorporate net zero considerations in all business decisions.

Examples of the different occupations involved during the construction stage include:

• Construction Managers and Purchasing Clerks make critical procurement, materials and waste decisions across all construction activities.
• Engineering Professionals support design of temporary infrastructure requirements and potential redesign based on low carbon initiatives.
• Financial/Cost Controllers support construction activities through modelling and tracking carbon emissions.
• Electricians and Safety Inspectors support the onsite implementation of energy efficiency solutions and inform optimisation methods with safety implications.
• Building and Plumbing Labourers and Concreters have direct input into making waste reduction decisions.

A complete list of occupations can be found below:

Operations and maintenance stage: focusing on long-term carbon emissions

The operations and maintenance phase is often the longest phase in an infrastructure asset’s lifecycle, affecting the long-term carbon emissions of infrastructure assets. The ability for continued carbon emissions reduction relies on the ongoing application of low-carbon practices, including opportunities to reduce operating emissions, and enhance asset management. 

Key considerations include continually updating operations and maintenance plans as time progresses and as infrastructure or carbon emission policies and targets are updated. Regular reviews and updates on infrastructure carbon emission performance goals are essential.

Mastering digital skills and emerging technologies is key to optimising energy performance

During this phase, Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers and Maintenance Managers and Technicians make crucial decisions regarding the asset’s energy efficiency and management. Financial/Cost Controllers, Economists, and Environmental Engineers can play a greater role in supporting sustainable operations. Stakeholders noted the need for these professionals to deepen their understanding of emerging technologies and strengthening their digital skills, particularly to reduce an asset’s ongoing energy consumption.

Stakeholders noted that digitalisation is opening up new opportunities for critical decarbonisation efforts, with many organisations implementing digital systems to monitor and track emissions.

Examples of the different occupations involved during the operations and maintenance stage include:

• Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers and Maintenance Managers and Technicians make critical asset management decisions which can prolong material and equipment life, replacing only when necessary.
• Electricians and Electrical Distribution Trades Workers support the implementation of energy efficiency retrofitting solutions within existing infrastructure facilities.
• Financial/Cost Controllers and Economists support operational activities through modelling and tracking carbon emissions.
• Environmental Managers support energy monitoring and waste management plans.
• Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals support carbon audits and reviews of operations against compliance requirements.

A complete list of occupations can be found below:

A note on the limitations of this analysis 

Net zero outcomes rely on adjacent and enabling sectors 

Efforts to reduce - and ultimately eliminate - carbon emissions from infrastructure delivery depend heavily on enabling inputs such as low carbon materials, advanced technologies and clean energy. Achieving this requires coordinated cross-sector efforts to ensure the timely and effective supply of these critical resources. While beyond the scope of this report, it should be acknowledged that these adjacent and enabling sectors themselves will also require substantial workforce upskilling as they transition toward net zero.

Tackling whole-of-life carbon requires a systemic approach to project delivery

This research presents net-zero activities as they attach to specific stages of project delivery. In practice, decarbonisation efforts are interconnected across the entire project lifecycle. For example, decisions made during the planning and design stages of an infrastructure project will define the specific activities required in the later construction and operations stages. Failure to subsequently secure the workers with the skills needed to carry out key construction stage activities might limit the carbon reduction potential as planned or designed. 

In practice, industry practitioners are encouraged to adopt a more holistic approach to workforce planning – one that considers the full range of decarbonisation opportunities across all stages of project delivery, in order to maximise impact and minimise potential skills mis-match. 

Most Net Zero Infrastructure roles will span multiple stages of the infrastructure life cycle, rather than being limited to a single project stage. The extent and breadth of net zero activities that a worker undertakes across the lifecycle can indicate their potential impact on reducing overall emissions. The next section explores Net Zero Infrastructure occupations in more detail, focusing on their relative potential to drive emissions reduction across infrastructure projects.

Net Zero Infrastructure occupations are analysed with reference to their potential impact on reducing overall carbon emissions on infrastructure projects and specific workforce challenges. Three groups of occupations are identified as having potential impact on reducing carbon emissions: 

• Concentrated Points of Vulnerability: Environmental Experts and Engineering Managers
• High Impact Potential: Economists, Financial Controllers, Policy and Procurement Specialists  
• High Demand and Many to Upskill: Construction Managers, Architects, Engineers and Technicians 

The remaining occupations were further split into:

• Moderate Impact: technical experts critical to one project stage  
• Low Impact: various roles across the supply chain 

Collectively, the high impact occupations account for almost two thirds of the Net Zero Infrastructure workforce and comprise exclusively of white-collar professionals. The key workforce challenges for these roles are to ensure adequate supply of workers with the net zero skills to meet growing demand. 

In comparison, the moderate and low impact groups of occupations are predominantly trades, labourer or technician roles.  While there is high competition and unmet demand for these roles, as indicated by above average numbers of repeat job advertisements within a 6 month period, there is relatively low demand for net zero specific skills compared to the high impact occupations.  

Analysis of each occupational grouping is detailed below.

Concentrated Points of Vulnerability: Environmental Professionals and Engineering Managers

Concentrated Points of Vulnerability encompass six occupations covering mainly Environmental and Engineer Manager roles that have a high impact on influencing emissions reduction outcomes during the upfront project planning stage as well as other stages of the lifecycle. These roles account for over 10% of the current Net Zero Infrastructure workforce and engage in almost a quarter (24%) of all net zero activities across the project lifecycle.

Figure 6: Concentrated Points of Vulnerability occupations and activities across the infrastructure lifecycle

Net zero specific skills accounted for an average 17% of roles advertised, much higher than the 5% average for all roles across the Net Zero Infrastructure workforce. However, demand for net zero specific skill grew at only 5%, lower than the average for all roles at 13%.  This suggests that collectively, job designs for these roles are relatively established compared to other roles across the Net Zero Infrastructure workforce.

The fastest growing net zero skills in job advertisements for Concentrated Points of Vulnerability roles include Environmental Data Analysis, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Stewardship and Carbon Management, which broadly aligns with their expertise as environmental specialists.

Industry and government stakeholders observe that job designs for environmental roles appear to be expanding beyond just monitoring and compliance, towards leading and guiding organisations to incorporate environmental considerations into decision making. This supports the analysis of job advertisements demonstrating growing demand for general skills for these roles.   

The key workforce challenges for this group of occupations are to ensure sufficient supply and monitor evolving industry needs or technical changes that may require workforce upskilling, for example in strategic decision-making and technical environmental analysis, monitoring and management skills.

High Impact Potential: Economists, Financial Controllers, Policy and Procurement Specialists 

High Impact Potential describe five occupations that are involved in few, but critical, activities that inform emission reduction outcomes. Most of these workers, such as Economists, Financial and Cost Controllers, and Policy Specialists play key roles that shape the design and planning of infrastructure delivery.        

These high impact roles account for approximately 13% of the Net Zero Infrastructure workforce and are engaged in almost a third of all net zero activities across the project lifecycle. 

Figure 7: High Impact Potential occupations and activities across the infrastructure lifecycle

Job advertisements for this group of occupations specify the lowest percentage of net zero skills (2%) compared to the workforce average (5%). However, demand for these are growing at a slightly faster rate than the workforce average (14% compared to 13%).

The fastest growing Net Zero Infrastructure skills specified in job advertisements for this group of occupations are: Energy Analysis, Environmental Studies, Carbon Accounting and Environmental Policy. 

Stakeholders noted these roles will need to prioritise upskilling in two key areas: acquiring the technical skills required to assess and make effective Net Zero Infrastructure decisions and gaining knowledge about the infrastructure construction context. For example, under the Transport and Infrastructure Ministers Meeting, governments across country have committed to valuing emissions, with many revising their business case guidelines accordingly. As such, economists will increasingly need the capability to monetise the social impact of emissions to support decision making. Further, less is known about the specific skills gaps and future demand for newer roles such as financial controllers within the context of decarbonising infrastructure delivery. 

As the momentum to decarbonise infrastructure delivery builds, roles with specialist net zero expertise continue to be called upon to advise on and guide carbon reduction strategies. The key challenge for this group of occupations is to identify the construction specific knowledge and net zero skills needed to upskill workers accordingly. 

High Demand and Many to Upskill: Construction Managers, Architects, Engineers and Technicians

High Demand and Many to Upskill describe seven occupations that resemble typical infrastructure workers — Construction Managers, Architects, Engineers and Technicians which have high impact on reducing emissions across various stages of the infrastructure lifecycle.¹¹

This is the largest group of occupations in terms of workers represented, accounting for almost 40% of the total Net Zero Infrastructure workforce, and are engaged in approximately a fifth of net zero activities across infrastructure projects. 

Figure 8: High Demand and Many to Upskill occupations and activities across the infrastructure lifecycle

Job advertisements for these roles specify a slightly lower percentage of net zero specific skills (4% compared to the workforce average of 5%) but high demand growth for these skills (17% compared to Net Zero Infrastructure workforce average of 13%).

The fastest growing Net Zero Infrastructure specific skills specified in job advertisements include: Energy Conservation, Environmental Compliance, Environmental Risk Assessment, and Retrofitting. 

Given the breadth of the occupations this group covers, stakeholders have highlighted that the nature of the skills mismatch and any associated barriers to upskilling workers in these roles would vary depending on the specific occupation. For example, in addition to the need to design and offer new Net Zero Infrastructure electives in training pathways (tertiary qualifications and training packages), certain regulatory, licencing procurement rules might hinder the uptake or development of new Net Zero Infrastructure skills. 

The key workforce challenge for this group would be to build net zero capability across a large cohort of infrastructure workers from a low baseline. 

Moderate Impact – Mostly Technical Experts Critical to One Project Stage  

Mostly technical experts, critical to one project stage describe include occupations that are responsible for Net Zero Infrastructure activities that are critical to one particular project stage (although total activities may span several stages). While their impact on overall total emissions reduction is moderate (not high), their criticality rests on the nature of the specific or technical skills they possess. 

This group consists of eight occupations representing many technical roles currently in shortage. Collectively, roles in this group had the highest growth in repeat job advertisements (60% compared to workforce average of 35%). They account for approximately one fifth of the total Net Zero Infrastructure workforce and are engaged in only 8% of net zero activities across the project lifecycle. 

Figure 9: Mostly Technical Experts occupations and activities across the infrastructure lifecycle

General skills first, net zero skills on the rise 

There is at present low demand for net zero skills in these roles, which account for only 1% of job advertisements for these roles (compared to the workforce average of 5%). However, demand for net zero specific skills is growing at the fastest rate of all occupational groups analysed, at 23% compared to the workforce average of 13%. Jobs advertisements for these roles suggest more demand for general skills than net zero skills. 

The immediate workforce challenge for this group of occupations does not appear to be net zero specific, but rather on upskilling of general skills.  However, future demand should be monitored, due to the high demand growth for net zero skills observed over the analysed period.

Low Impact - Various Contributors, Mainly Construction Stage Workers 

The Various Contributors group of ten occupations are engaged in a few activities across the infrastructure lifecycle, with a more specific focus on the construction project stage than other groups.

This group represents 16% of the Net Zero Infrastructure workforce and are engaged in a fifth (20%) of net zero activities across projects. They have a relatively low impact on overall total emissions reduction of a project.

Figure 10: Various Contributors occupations and activities across the infrastructure lifecycle

There is low demand for net zero skills (3% compared to 5% workforce average) and low growth for these skills (4% compared to 13%).  

Due to their low impact on decarbonising outcomes, these occupations could be de-prioritised for direct workforce interventions to upskill on net zero and monitored for supply only.

1. Infrastructure Australia 2024, 2024 Infrastructure Market Capacity Report, Infrastructure Australia, available at https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/2024-infrastructure-market-capacity-report
2. Infrastructure Australia 2024, Embodied Carbon Projections for Australian Infrastructure and Buildings, Infrastructure Australia, available at https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/embodied-carbon-projections. As of FY 2023, operating and embodied emissions from infrastructure and buildings (comprising transport, utilities and buildings) are almost one third of Australia’s total carbon emissions, and with enabled emissions, they would be responsible for over half of all the country’s emissions.
3. Infrastructure Australia 2024, 2024 Infrastructure Market Capacity Report, Infrastructure Australia, available at https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/2024-infrastructure-market-capacity-report
4. Roles not counted as part of the infrastructure workforce by Infrastructure Australia, see 2024 Infrastructure Market Capacity Report, Infrastructure Australia, available at https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/2024-infrastructure-market-capacity-report
5. Infrastructure NSW 2024, Decarbonising Infrastructure Delivery | Capability Survey Results Summary Infrastructure NSW, available at https://www.infrastructure.nsw.gov.au/media/tr1bjfuu/insw-decarb-cap-survey-results-summary.pdf
6. Infrastructure Australia 2024, Embodied Carbon Projections for Australian Infrastructure and Buildings, Infrastructure Australia, available at https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/embodied-carbon-projections As of FY 2023, operating and embodied emissions from infrastructure and buildings (comprising transport, utilities and buildings) are almost one third of Australia’s total carbon emissions, and with enabled emissions, they would be responsible for over half of all the country’s emissions.
7. Australian Government 2023, Infrastructure Policy Statement, Australian Government, viewed 17 April 2025, available at https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/infrastructure-policy-statement-20231114.pdf
8. Applying Infrastructure’s Australia’s definition of the infrastructure workforce, see Infrastructure Australia 2024, 2024 Infrastructure Market Capacity Report, Infrastructure Australia, available at https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/2024-infrastructure-market-capacity-report
9. Roles not counted as part of the infrastructure workforce by Infrastructure Australia, see 2024 Infrastructure Market Capacity Report, Infrastructure Australia, available at https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/2024-infrastructure-market-capacity-report
10. Roles not counted as part of the infrastructure workforce by Infrastructure Australia, see 2024 Infrastructure Market Capacity Report, Infrastructure Australia, available at https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/2024-infrastructure-market-capacity-report
11. Based on Infrastructure Australia’s definition of the infrastructure workforce, see 2024 Infrastructure Market Capacity Report, Infrastructure Australia, available at https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/2024-infrastructure-market-capacity-report
12. Infrastructure NSW 2024, Decarbonising Infrastructure Delivery | Capability Survey Results Summary, Infrastructure NSW, available at https://www.infrastructure.nsw.gov.au/media/tr1bjfuu/insw-decarb-cap-survey-results-summary.pdf
13. Infrastructure NSW 2024, Decarbonising Infrastructure Delivery | Capability Survey Results Summary, Infrastructure NSW, available at https://www.infrastructure.nsw.gov.au/media/tr1bjfuu/insw-decarb-cap-survey-results-summary.pdf