Construction workforce set to grow by nearly 10%

The next 5 years will see a nearly 10% growth in our industry’s workforce

The construction workforce is anticipated to increase in all states and territories over the five years to 2024, by which time it will reach 1.28m.

Growth will be stronger in capital cities than regional areas, with the exception of WA where regional areas are tipped to grow more quickly than Perth. In the NT, Darwin is anticipated to have growth, however, the workforce in regional NT will contract.

South East Melbourne will increase by the largest number of workers – 8,856 and the workforce in Ipswich is anticipated to increase by a staggering 24.9%!

Unfortunately the projections aren’t so rosy for Wide Bay in Queensland which is looking at a 3% contraction or North West Perth where the workforce anticipated to decrease by 331 workers.

The highest growth regions, by total number and percentage, in each state and territory are:

• NSW: Inner South West Sydney (4,711 workers) and Richmond Tweed (19.8%)
• Vic: South East Melbourne (8,856 workers, a 19.7% increase)
• Qld: Ipswich (4,465 workers, a 24.9% increase)
• WA: Bunbury (935 workers) and Inner Perth (13.8%)
• SA: Northern Adelaide (3,272 workers, a 15.9% increase)
• Tas: Hobart (1,171 workers, an 11.6% increase)
• NT: Darwin (140 workers, a 1.7% increase)
• ACT: Canberra (1,802 workers, a 9.7% increase)