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Civil engineer

Also called harbour civil engineer, civil engineering expert, civil engineering adviser

Civil engineers design, plan, and develop technical and engineering specifications for infrastructure and construction projects. They apply engineering knowledge in a vast array of projects, from the construction of infrastructure for transportation, housing projects, and luxury buildings, to the construction of natural sites. They design plans that seek to optimise materials and integrate specifications and resource allocation within the time constraints.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospectsShortage in 14 countries now. 40 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Science and engineering professionalsWhat does it pay?Above averageFrom about €2,000 (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Science and engineering professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree9 in 10 have a degree.Science and engineering professionalsWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Civil engineers · ILO

What you'd do

Civil engineers · ILO
  • Conducting research and developing new or improved theories and methods related to civil engineering
  • Advising on and designing structures such as bridges, dams, docks, roads, airports, railways, canals, pipelines, waste-disposal and flood-control systems, and industrial and other large buildings
  • Determining and specifying construction methods, materials and quality standards, and directing construction work
  • Establishing control systems to ensure efficient functioning of structures as well as safety and environmental protection
  • Organising and directing maintenance and repair of existing civil engineering structures
  • Analysing the behaviour of soil and rock when placed under pressure by proposed structures and designing structural foundations
  • Analysing the stability of structures and testing the behaviour and durability of materials used in their construction
Approve engineering designUse technical drawing softwareAdjust engineering designsManage engineering projectExecute feasibility study+ 14 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people, including the public
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Civil Engineers"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

14 EU countries are short of civil engineers now, and many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as science and engineering professionals in the EU
5.82m7.82m9.03m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
948,000 new jobs 2,300,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Science and engineering professionals40
All jobs29
Right now
14 of 27 countries report a shortage of civil engineers, 5 a surplus.
Civil engineers · EURES

What does it pay?

Above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €2,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in building and civil engineering is the usual route.

Highest qualification of science and engineering professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 90%Vocational 6%General secondary 3%Basic schooling 1%
Field that teaches it
Building and civil engineering
Vocational route, EU
5 in 10 trainees in this field
Engineering graduates in a matching job
73% in the EU

949 institutions in the EU offer engineering bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.30 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 7 tasks
Conducting research and developing new or improved theories and methods related to civil engineering0.42
Advising on and designing structures such as bridges, dams, docks, roads, airports, railways, canals, pipelines, waste-disposal and flood-control systems, and industrial and other large buildings0.32
Determining and specifying construction methods, materials and quality standards, and directing construction work0.31
Analysing the behaviour of soil and rock when placed under pressure by proposed structures and designing structural foundations0.29
Analysing the stability of structures and testing the behaviour and durability of materials used in their construction0.28
Establishing control systems to ensure efficient functioning of structures as well as safety and environmental protection0.26
Organising and directing maintenance and repair of existing civil engineering structures0.23

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for civil engineers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).