Master Builders Australia has released its “Future of the Workforce: Skilled Migrants in Building and Construction” report, calling for a dedicated building and construction visa pathway from the Federal Government.
Skilled migrants are crucial for addressing Australia’s housing crisis, which sees an undersupply of homes and increasing demand for various types of accommodation. The industry needs an additional 500,000 workers to meet the target of building 1.2 million homes and supporting infrastructure under the Housing Accord.
The Reserve Bank recently confirmed that home building is expected to slow due to rising construction costs and labour shortages. Domestic training of apprentices cannot keep pace with demand, making skilled migrants essential to alleviating workforce pressures.
The current migration framework is inadequate and needs improvement to prioritise skilled workers required for construction. Australia should adopt construction-specific pathways like those in Canada, the UK, and New Zealand to ensure a steady influx of quality trades workers.
A simplified, cost-effective, and quicker visa and skills recognition process is necessary to boost the building and construction workforce and meet national building and infrastructure targets.