Crane, Hoist and Lift Operators
Crane, Hoist and Lift Operators operate stationary and mobile cranes, hoists, lifts and winches to lift, move and place materials, equipment and people in areas such as building sites, factories, mines, sawmills, wharves and shipyards.
Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26
ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 7121.More about our sources: How we check our factsWhat they do
The main tasks of this occupation, from the national occupation standard.
Source: JSA occupation profile
Task list from the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for ANZSCO 7121 (ANZSCO task statements).More about our sources: How we check our factsThe outlook
Room for 1,200 more people in crane, hoist and lift operators by 2035 ▲
The field grew 13.2% in the year to February 2026, adding about 2,400 workers. Most of the jobs are in QLD and NSW, with VIC third.
Source: JSA · ABS, 2025-26
ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 7121.More about our sources: How we check our factsGetting in
There is no single way in. 41% trained through VET, 3% hold a degree.
Both paths are common in this field. These are the nationally recognised courses mapped to this occupation, with the number of registered training providers that offer each one.
Source: JSA · training.gov.au
Education split: JSA (Jobs and Skills Australia) occupation profile, using ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Census data, ANZSCO 7121. Qualification mapping and provider counts: training.gov.au, the national register of vocational education, October 2026. Listed providers are current registered training providers (private providers and TAFE institutes).More about our sources: How we check our factsNationally recognised training · most offered first
Licensed work: several of these courses lead to work that also needs a state or territory licence. Training is the first step; licensing rules are set by each state.
Providers are shown in A-Z order on each course page. A listing is not a recommendation.
Jobs open right now
20k Australians do this work. See who is hiring this month.
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Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26
State chart shows people employed, not current job ads. ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 7121.More about our sources: How we check our factsPeople employed by state, 2025-26
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