Labour data and AI report findings strengthen case for construction careers

23 July 2026

Today’s ABS Labour Force data shows Australia’s unemployment rate remaining steady at 4.4 per cent during June.

Master Builders Australia Chief Economist Shane Garrett said the building and construction industry remains hundreds of thousands of workers short of what is needed to meet the nation’s housing and infrastructure ambitions.

“During June, over 76,000 new jobs were created across the economy, the bulk of which were part time. Clearly, Australia’s labour force is continuing to expand. We are still not seeing enough new workers enter into our industry,” said Mr Garrett.

“With demand for new homes, infrastructure and commercial projects remaining strong, there are outstanding opportunities for Australians looking to build a long-term career in the industry.

“This is also a time when construction is offering strong job security, particularly as advances in artificial intelligence are changing the nature of many office-based roles.

A recent Government report ranked construction among the industries least exposed to the impacts of AI on jobs.

Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn said this was yet another reason more Australians should consider taking up a trade.

“Around 95 per cent of trade apprenticeship completers secure employment after finishing their training,” Ms Wawn said.

“We also need the Federal Government to make taking up a trade as easy as possible. This means reversing cuts to employer incentives, expanding Fee-Free TAFE funding to include not-for-profit RTOs that deliver higher completion rates, and embedding stronger school-to-trade pathways.

“If this is backed by an efficient and effective skilled migration system, we will be closer to securing the workforce needed to build our way out of the housing crisis and deliver the homes, buildings and infrastructure Australia desperately needs,” Ms Wawn said

Media contact: Dylan Hafey, Adviser, Media & Government Relations

0497 330 064 | dylan.hafey@masterbuilders.com.au