“Nails without the hammer”: Skills recognition reform can help deliver the workforce needed to address the housing crisis

Reforming Australia’s convoluted, costly and inefficient overseas skills recognition process will help build the homes needed to address the nation’s housing crisis and allow more skilled migrants already here to work in the construction industry, says the Activate Australia’s Skills campaign.

Key housing policies announced by Labor and the Coalition this week aim to boost home ownership by building new homes for first-time buyers.

But commentators and economists have pointed out that supply-side investment is undermined by the chronic shortage of skilled workers accessible to the construction industry.

Campaign spokesperson and CEO of Settlement Services International (SSI), Violet Roumeliotis AM, is urging politicians to reform Australia’s skills recognition system.

“These policies provide the building materials, land and demand, but they are like nails without a hammer. Without the workforce we cannot build the houses we urgently need,” Ms Roumeliotis said.

“We have skilled migrants already living here who can help build the houses we need, but they’re trapped by a skills recognition system that works against them and works against the construction industry to deliver the homes we urgently need.”

“Many governments have tinkered at the edges of Australia’s skills recognition regime, when what is really needed is wholesale reform to create a skills recognition system that is fairer, more affordable, and more effective at meeting our skill needs. This will not only benefit the construction industry, but every sector of the economy including healthcare and technology.”

Over 100 organisations and more than 15 prominent Australians have joined the “Activate Australia’s Skills” campaign, convened by SSI. They are advocating for changes to Australia’s skills recognition system to fill workforce shortages and improve services. These changes would allow qualified and experienced migrants already residing in Australia to work in the construction sector more easily.

Master Builders Australia is a key supporter of the campaign and is urging all parties to make the necessary reforms to allow skilled migrant workers living in Australia to help build Australia’s housing shortfalls.

“It is well known that Australia is in the midst of a housing crisis. From social and community housing, rental property and owner-occupiers, there is a common restraint – supply,” said Denita Wawn, chief executive of Master Builders Australia.

“Each skilled migrant who is blocked from unnecessarily complex recognition processes should be seen as a loss to the construction industry of 2.4 new houses each year.

“Harnessing the skills of overseas-trained workers is critical to addressing Australia’s housing crisis. Yet, to work in many roles in construction they have to endure lengthy, expensive and complex skills assessment processes. For many, this results in them working below their skill level, or not in the industry at all. This is a loss to building and construction, and Australia as whole.”

The Activate Australia’s Skills campaign is calling for key skills recognition reforms:

• Establish one national governance system for all overseas skills and qualifications recognition, including an Ombudsman with regulatory power to provide independent oversight and transparency.

• Create a more joined-up system that links skills recognition for migration purposes with licensing and accreditation for employment purposes.

• Provide financial support for individuals to remove cost barriers and an online portal with all the information so people know what they need to do.

• Set up Migrant Employment Pathway Hubs with skills recognition navigators to get qualified people working in their professions again.