
Master Builders Australia has raised alarm over a significant workforce shortage in the construction industry, estimating that an additional 130,000 workers will be needed over the next five years to meet projected demand.
Key points from the Master Builder’s Future of the Workforce report include:
- The industry needs 130,000 more workers over five years to meet construction demand
- This figure does not include replacements for workers leaving the industry
- The shortage threatens the delivery of the government’s National Housing Accord, which aims to build 1.2 million homes by 2029
- Worker productivity has declined 18% over the last decade
Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia, emphasized the critical nature of the situation:
“This is the very workforce needed to deliver the homes and supporting infrastructure we desperately need,” Wawn said.
“Productivity has declined 18 per cent over the last decade putting significant pressures on workers and employers.”
To address the shortage, Master Builders Australia has called for several measures:
- Fast-tracking skilled migration with simpler visa processes
- Collaboration between government and industry on an apprentice commencement and retention strategy
- Initiatives to encourage young women to consider careers in the trades
Wawn acknowledged that solving the workforce shortage will require a comprehensive approach:
“There’s no quick fix to the critical workforce shortages,” she said.
“It will require a holistic approach across federal government portfolios from migration, skills and training through to industrial relations.”
The report highlights the challenges facing Australia’s construction industry as it seeks to meet ambitious housing targets while grappling with declining productivity and workforce shortages.