Construction targets 500k worker boost

THE peak national construction body has released a blueprint to attract almost half a million people to its workforce by 2026 to keep up with expected project demand in coming years.

Master Builders Australia released a blueprint to future-proof the industry’s workforce last month, and outlined a plan to boost its current employment base of 1.3 million by 486,000 in four years.

Employees leaving the industry and ongoing demand for building projects will heighten the need for a steady pipeline of workers.

MBA’s report indicated Australia’s population was projected to grow by more than 50 per cent and be approaching 40 million by 2060, which CEO Denita Wawn said would “require a significant workforce to undertake the necessary building and construction work”.

“Construction is the backbone of the Australian economy, employing approximately 1.3 million people, providing infrastructure, commercial and community buildings, and homes for the growing population.

“The nature of work in the industry is evolving due to increasing business specialisation, more offsite building, frequent job changes, technology integration, and complex regulatory requirements.

“Understanding the emerging and future workforce skills needs is critical for ensuring flexible pathways in the industry that meet the changing and diverse needs of workers, businesses, and employers.

“The blueprint aims to address this by attracting new workers into the industry, retaining current and emerging workers, and ensuring that training and education products and pathways remain up-to-date and flexible.”

Ms Wawn listed addressing a “bias” that pushed secondary school students to university rather than vocational fields and improving the industry’s gender diversity as key initiatives to fix the worker squeeze, which she said was contributing to inflationary pressure that was driving up construction prices.