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The Australian building and construction industry needs more workers.
With an ageing workforce and increasing demand for housing and infrastructure, Master Builders anticipates that at least half a million people must enter the industry over the years to 2029. No fewer than two thirds of those new entrants will need to be skilled tradespeople. This is simply to maintain business as usual.
To achieve the Housing Accord goal of 1.2 million new homes by 2029, and net zero transformation by 2050, the number needed is even higher.
While bringing more apprentices to the industry, providing them with high quality training, education, on the job experience, and support remains a priority for the building and construction industry, it’s clear that our ability to train more apprentices domestically cannot keep up with demand.
Master Builders Australia believes that skilled migrants represent a vital part of the building and construction industry and are key to meeting our goals.
In our report, The Future of the Workforce: Skilled Migrants in Building and Construction, Master Builders recommends that the Federal Government:
- Develop and implement a construction industry-specific visa pathway that makes it quick, easy and cost-effective for migrants with the trade skills Australia needs to get here and get out on the tools, working in a role for which they are appropriately
- Ensure all trade and trade-related occupations are included in the Core Skills pathway of the Skills in Demand visa.
- Improve the process and reduce the need for skills assessments for migrants coming from countries with comparable qualification and training frameworks.
- Ensure the skills recognition process that remains is quick, simple and cost
- Streamline national licensing frameworks insofar as possible to enable workforce movement and allow for nationally accredited gap training for all licensed trades.
The full report and list of recommendations can be found below.