OSCA occupation

OSCA 741237: Tunnel Constructor

Operates plant to excavate, support and form tunnels and shafts in the ground, needed for services such as rail lines, roads and water works. This record sits in Earthmoving Plant Operators. Related ANZSIC industry links are included for faster classification cross-checking. Skill level 4 is attached to this occupation record.

Should you use OSCA or ANZSCO?

OSCA 2024 is the current Australian occupation classification for storing, organising and reporting occupation information. Use this OSCA record for current Australian statistical and analytical classification work.

Some migration and administrative programs still specify ANZSCO 2022. Check the exact system named by the agency or form rather than replacing the code automatically.

Check the current ABS guidance on OSCA and ANZSCO use

Official ANZSCO correspondence

Role overview

Operates plant to excavate, support and form tunnels and shafts in the ground, needed for services such as rail lines, roads and water works.

Use this page to confirm the official title, the parent unit group, the task list and the related ANZSIC industry context before using the occupation in classification, reporting or migration-adjacent workflows.

Occupation facts

Skill level
4
Major group
7 Machinery Operators and Drivers
Sub-major group
74 Mobile Plant Operators
Minor group
741 Mobile Plant Operators
Unit group
7412 Earthmoving Plant Operators

Tasks

  • Operates and performs routine repairs and maintenance on tunnelling equipment and machinery, such as road header machines and tunnel boring machines
  • Excavates and removes soil and rock to create tunnels and shafts
  • Installs and maintains support systems, such as timber, steel or concrete linings
  • Installs site services such as air supply, ventilation, dust extraction and drainage
  • Monitors and adjusts tunnelling equipment to ensure safe and efficient operation
  • Inspects and tests tunnelling structures for stability and integrity
  • Follows engineering plans and specifications to ensure accurate tunnel construction
  • Collaborates with engineers and other construction workers to coordinate tunnelling activities

Skill level guidance

Skill level helps place the occupation inside the ABS hierarchy. Use it as a classification cue, then check the actual task list and occupational context before making a decision for HR, visa or reporting work.

How to use this occupation page

Start with the official OSCA title and task list. Then confirm the parent unit group and compare the related occupations on this page if the job title is broad, overlapping or used differently across employers.

The ANZSIC links are there to help when the same occupation appears across several industries and you need the business-side classification as well.

Compare before choosing

Compare OSCA 741237 with related occupations

Compare roles in the same OSCA unit group by their official definition, skill level, tasks and recognised alternative titles.

Comparison pointCurrent code741237 Tunnel Constructor741231 Earthmoving Plant Operator (General)741232 Backhoe Operator
Official role definitionOperates plant to excavate, support and form tunnels and shafts in the ground, needed for services such as rail lines, roads and water works.Operates a range of earthmoving plant to excavate, level, compact and shape earth and other materials to assist with building roads, rail, water supply, dams, treatment plants and agricultural earthworks.Operates a backhoe and attachments to excavate, break, drill, level and compact earth, rock and other material.
Skill levelSkill Level 4Skill Level 4Skill Level 4
Key tasks
  • Operates and performs routine repairs and maintenance on tunnelling equipment and machinery, such as road header machines and tunnel boring machines
  • Excavates and removes soil and rock to create tunnels and shafts
  • Installs and maintains support systems, such as timber, steel or concrete linings
  • Installs site services such as air supply, ventilation, dust extraction and drainage
  • Maintains and operates a range of earthmoving plant to excavate, level, compact and shape earth and other materials
  • Loads, transports and unloads materials using earthmoving plant and equipment
  • Performs routine pre-start checks, maintenance, minor repairs and adjustments on earthmoving plant and equipment
  • Monitors and reports any faults or malfunctions of earthmoving plant and equipment
  • Operates a backhoe and attachments to excavate and remove earth, rock and other materials
  • Breaks through hard surfaces using backhoe attachments
  • Uses backhoe attachments to lift and place objects such as pipes, poles and logs
  • Loads and unloads materials onto trucks or other vehicles using a backhoe
Alternative titles
  • Tunneller
  • Construction Plant Operator (General)
Not stated

Comparison uses occupation definitions, skill levels, tasks and title variants from the ABS OSCA data files.

Compliance risk score

4 of 4 factors passing

10 / 10
Verified official source
- ABS OSCA occupation record present
Previous edition migration
- OSCA to ANZSCO correspondence attached
Complete hierarchy
- Major, sub-major, minor and unit group links are present
Legacy crosswalk
- Legacy ANZSCO correspondence attached

How we calculate this score →

In this section

Frequently asked questions

What does OSCA 741237 do?

Tunnel Constructor is the current ABS occupation record used to describe a specific occupation. It sits in the OSCA hierarchy and carries skill-level context plus related titles and tasks.

How should I read the skill level?

The skill level tells you the educational or training depth that the ABS associates with the occupation. It is a classification signal, not a salary band or a qualification checklist on its own.

Why is industry context shown on an occupation page?

Industry context helps when the title is common or ambiguous. It shows where the occupation is typically employed so you can compare it with the right ANZSIC family.

Source and trust

Official source
ABS OSCA 2024 release and correspondence tables
Last reviewed
2026-04-17

This site is an independent reference resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the ABS, ATO or any Australian Government agency.

Please verify critical classification decisions with the official authority before using them for tax, payroll, licensing, immigration or compliance work.

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