Australia's peak building and construction association has claimed that the industry needs another 130,000 workers to meet current demand, as workforce productivity continues to slump.
Master Builders Australia has called for the federal government to fast-track skilled migration and better support apprentices, warning that Australia will need an additional 130,000 workers over five years to meet projected construction demand.
The figure does not include new workers who will be also required to replace those leaving the construction workforce.
Highlighted in the new Master Builder's Future of the Workforce report, the association outlined that overcoming the workforce shortage is critical to delivering the government's National Housing Accord, which commits to building 1.2 million homes by 2029.
However, Master Builders highlighted that the nation has never achieved such ambitious construction targets. The closest was the commencement of 1.1 million new dwellings between 2014 and 2018.
Despite growing by 51,120 workers over the year to May 2024, further pain is projected for the industry as declining worker productivity threatens output.
This is the very workforce needed to deliver the homes and supporting infrastructure we desperately need, Master Builders CEO Denita Wawn said.
Productivity has declined 18 per cent over the last decade putting significant pressures on workers and employers.
In addition to encouraging the federal government to adopt simpler visa processes to prioritise skilled workers in construction, Master Builders has called for government and industry to collaborate on an apprentice commencement and retention strategy.
The report also includes recommendations to ensure that young women feel safe and encouraged to explore a career in the trades.
There's no quick fix to the critical workforce shortages, Wawn continued.
It will require a holistic approach across federal government portfolios from migration, skills and training through to industrial relations.
Proposed solutions include increasing trade apprenticeships, leveraging skilled migration from similar regions, and fostering a diverse, inclusive culture to attract new talent from across the economy, the CEO concluded.
https://realestatebusiness.com.au/industry/28694-construction-industry-faces-130k-worker-shortage-master-builders-australia
