How Property and Water Careers are Helping us Prepare for the Future

Your career 🤝 the solution 

This article is presented in partnership with BuildSkills.

Climate change, housing affordability and population growth are probably phrases you’ve heard thrown around in the news quite a bit these last few years.

They can feel like big terms and even bigger problems better left to politicians or activists to sort out.

However, there are different careers you can discover which allow you to work within these problems and even be part of the solution.

Building water resilience.

Water makes up a huge part of Australia’s ecosystem. And our water consumption has continued to rise year on year.

In 2023-24, water consumption in households increased by 6.2 per cent from 1759 gallons to 1868 gallons.

In the same year, total water consumption rose 12.9 per cent to 17,223 gallons, despite annual rainfall being above the long-term average. 

Climate change, droughts, shifting rainfall patterns and increasing demand put pressure on water systems, with more career opportunities in water management evolving to make a difference.

Roles such as Climate Resilience and Adaptation Specialists, Water Resilience Managers and Process Engineers are examples of jobs that directly involve responding to climate impacts on water systems.

These jobs take a look at what’s not working, what can be improved and then providing guidance on what should be done before assisting with carrying these initiatives out.

A great gig for the planners out there.

Creating affordable housing.

Why does affordable housing matter? Well, because everyone deserves to live in a safe and stable environment without sacrificing things like groceries or healthcare.

Ever heard older people talk about the rising house prices? In 2025, the price of Australian houses rose by $89,700 and now sit at a median of $969,000.

If you’re not familiar with the price of houses, that’s pretty high.

Careers in this field like Urban Planners, Developers and Housing Specialists work to shape policies and designs that could hopefully help create diverse housing types.

 These could be medium-density townhouses or mixed-use communities which can all help with our capital cities sprawling further and further out.

These roles involve analysing demographic trends, planning land use, and working with community and government partners to ensure housing is both sustainable and accessible. It’s perfect for people who love analysing trends or working through policy.

Building liveable cities.

And with creating more affordable housing comes building sustainable cities.

The construction industry plays a critical role in responding to both climate change and population growth by turning ideas into real-world solutions.

Careers in this industry prioritise sustainable materials, energy-efficient buildings and climate-resilient design. Think about your school or university - a portion of their power most likely comes from an energy efficient plan.

Builders, Construction Managers, Site Engineers and Sustainability Specialists work with Architects and Planners to reduce emissions and minimise waste.

Plus, people in these careers will work to ensure buildings and homes can withstand weather like heatwaves, floods and storms.

A job working in property, water, planning or infrastructure can be your frontline. These careers offer pathways to influence the future of cities, protect essential resources and ensure communities thrive in the face of climate change and population growth.

Whether you’re interested in engineering, planning and development, environmental science, sustainability, or community engagement, check out the BuildSkills website for more information about these industries.