When most people think of construction work, they think of general operative jobs and low slung denims.

But while the greatest population of workers in the sector will be involved at the labour end (and it is no surprise that this is where the greatest influx of foreign labour has ended up), there is a whole host of professional jobs available throughout the sector, with strong remuneration packages and conditions across the industry.

"There is definitely a demand for people in the QS (quantity surveyor) and engineering roles, " said Derek Lawler, director of Construction Jobs. ie, a website dedicated to sourcing candidates across all levels of the construction industry.

"Indeed, in many ways, this is an employees market, and anyone with good levels of technical proficiency can find themselves with an attractive package. Construction workers are often seen as being part of a dirty boots brigade, but there are numerous opportunities on the design and engineering sides of the industry. We have more than 6,000 jobs advertised on our site at the moment, and the majority of these are in the technical and professional areas."

A salary survey posted on IrishJobs. ie's website points to some of the spectacular salaries available to those at the upper end of the construction salary scale . . .

indeed, a senior quantity surveyor can earn between 80,000 and 150,000, depending on the project.

And while there are signs of a slowdown in the housing sector, the good news for qualified engineers and other workers is that civil engineering works will continue apace . . . and it is at civil engineering level, according to the survey, that the most impressive of the salaries can be achieved. But, overall, the sector is providing quality employment to a significant proportion of the Irish workforce.

"In employing approximately 280,000 people, the construction industry is vital for Ireland's future growth prospects and economy as a whole, " said Joe Bonner, senior recruitment consultant at Parc, which provides permanent recruitment and contract staffing solutions to the IT, Design and Construction and Technical Engineering industries including Manufacturing and Pharmaceutical as well as Financial Services sectors. "But the trend may move from a residential emphasis (new house and apartment developments) to infrastructural projects . . . for example, the second terminal at Dublin Airport, the M50 upgrades, and the extension of the LUAS system, "