What this life looks like
You make sure construction projects make financial sense from start to finish. Quantity Surveyors manage the costs of construction projects — estimating costs before work begins, managing budgets during construction, valuing completed work for payment, and resolving cost-related disputes. It is a profession that combines technical construction knowledge with financial and commercial expertise, and one in strong demand as Africa's construction sector grows in scale and sophistication.
What she actually does
You prepare cost estimates and budgets for proposed construction projects, measure quantities of materials and labour required from drawings and specifications, prepare tender documents and evaluate contractor bids, monitor costs throughout construction and manage variations to the contract, value completed work for interim payments to contractors, and resolve cost disputes between clients and contractors.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| Quantity Surveying Firms | Specialist QS consultancies serving construction clients across Africa's major cities |
| Construction Companies | Major contractors employ in-house QS teams for cost management on their projects |
| Property Developers | Developers employ QS professionals to manage development costs and feasibility studies |
| Government & Public Works | Public infrastructure agencies require QS expertise for cost control on publicly funded projects |
Why it matters in Africa
As African construction projects grow in scale and complexity — and as both local and international investors demand rigorous cost control — the demand for qualified quantity surveyors has grown significantly. Major infrastructure projects, commercial developments, and housing programmes all require quantity surveying expertise to ensure projects remain financially viable and that public and private funds are used accountably.
Your pathway in
- Study Quantity Surveying or Construction Economics at university — many African universities offer accredited degree programmes
- Develop strong numeracy and analytical skills — quantity surveying is fundamentally a measurement and cost analysis discipline
- Gain practical experience through internships with construction companies or surveying firms during your studies
- Pursue professional registration: the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and national quantity surveying bodies (e.g., the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria, the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession) provide professional accreditation
- Build software proficiency: CostX, Bluebeam, and BIM (Building Information Modelling) tools are increasingly standard
Skills you will need
- Construction cost estimation
- Quantity measurement from drawings
- Tender preparation and evaluation
- Contract administration
- Software proficiency (CostX, BIM)
- Negotiation and dispute resolution
A woman in this field
Professor Olubola Babalola
Nigeria
Professor Olubola Babalola is a prominent Nigerian academic, quantity surveyor, and researcher who made history as the first female Professor of Quantity Surveying in Africa. She is widely celebrated as a trailblazer in the built environment, a sector traditionally dominated by men. Professor Babalola has spent decades advancing higher education and professional training in Nigeria, primarily at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife. She is recognized as the first female quantity surveyor to obtain a Ph.D. in West Africa..
Take your first step
- Research Quantity Surveying degree programmes at universities in your country — most African countries have at least one accredited programme, often within built environment or engineering faculties
- Practise basic measurement and estimation: take a simple structure (a room, a wall) and estimate the materials required to build it — this kind of exercise builds the foundational thinking of quantity surveying
- Research the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession (SACQSP), or your country's equivalent body for information on professional registration pathways
- Look into RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) at rics.org — they offer globally recognised qualifications increasingly available through African university partnerships
Careers close to this one
- Construction Manager
- Building Inspector
- Civil Engineer
- Architect
- Property Manager