Australia has a serious skills shortage that has created a climate of uncertainty for private investment.
Despite an increase in infrastructure spending and housing, BuildSkills Australia executive director for research & planning, Robert Sabyra, said industry is scared labour shortages will hinder project delivery.
“The building industry is working hard to deliver 1.2 million homes by 2029 but we have a serious skills shortage,” he said.
“Australia hasn’t seen this much construction and housing action since World War II, it is a huge challenge.”
Speaking at ARBSQLD, Sabyra said the unemployment rate is currently sitting at four per cent and it is not budging.
“We need more sustainable productivity growth, specifically more output with the same amount of workers. We cannot keep throwing more people at the problem,” he said.
BuildSkills Australia was established by the federal government last year to tackle Australia’s skills shortage in the built environment.
The organisation was tasked with developing Australia’s first workforce plan for the construction, property and water industries.
“We really need to be looking at every lever at our disposal to mobilise the workforce,” he said.
Shifting the focus to Queensland, Sabya said it has been evident over the last five to 10 years that economic growth has been heading north to the Sunshine State.
Although recent conversation has been reduced to the 2032 Olympics, he said there is so much more to talk about.
Sabya said the organisation is looking to identify the workforce needs for Queensland and is also looking to identify occupational mobility opportunities.