New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed a concerning jump in the number of job vacanices across the construction sector, up 33.5 per cent from pre-COVID levels.
Labour force data, released by the ABS, also detailed a 22 per cent rise in manufacturing job vacancies, leaving crucial gaps to fill in essential workforce positions.
Matt King, Senior Economist at the Housing Industry Association, said the statistics painted an “alarming picture” where there simply “aren’t enough people to fill those boots.”
“This troubling gap between the demand for skilled trades and its supply risks significantly impeding the nation’s ability to meet the ambitious housing target of 1.2 million new homes over five years,” he said.
“These figures echo HIA estimates that an additional 83,000 skilled workers will be required to deliver the government’s housing target. However, the current pipeline of skilled labour in the construction industry is far from sufficient.
Latest Stories
“The persistent shortage of qualified tradespeople and construction professionals is compounding existing challenges, such as escalating construction costs and project delays.”
Paul McKenzie, a builder in Canowindra says it has been challenging finding new apprentices, and the industry would still struggle without significant support.
"We probably could use more incentives from government, for tools and so on" he said.
Construction and home builders across Cowra and Canowindra have reported that many companies turn to foreign labour to fill the shortage, while for residents, local labour struggles to remain competitive with higher paid roles and easier working conditions.
"We were working on a job in Cowra just last week, and it's 38 degrees, it's not pleasant but that's the job sometimes," said McKenzie, who said while his business was unaffected, said he'd seen little interest from applicants.
The Federal Government has announced a $10,000 incentive to new tradesmen in critical roles.
