{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change location {{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationHome builders aiming to use slower year to train more apprentices
Home builders aiming to use slower year to train more apprentices
Member and guest login
Enter your email and password to access secured content, members only resources and discount prices.
Did you become a member online? If not, you will need to activate your account to login.
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
Forgotten password
Need some help?
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
If the email address you have entered is registered, you will receive an email with further instructions.
Become part of the HIA community
Enables quick and easy registration for future events or learning and grants access to expert advice and valuable resources.
Create a guest account
Enter your details below and create a login
The HIA Trades Report released today provides a quarterly review of the availability of skilled trades and any demand pressures on trades operating in the residential building industry.
“A survey of home builders undertaken in January shows that 51 per cent of home builders aim to increase the number of apprentices they employ in 2024, with just 7 per cent of builders expecting to reduce their apprentice numbers,” added Mr Devitt.
“The strong intention to increase employment of apprentices occurs as the volume of homes under construction continues to shrink due to the rise in the cash rate.
“Despite the slowdown in building activity, strong demand for skilled tradespeople in other sectors has ensured that building trades remain in high demand.
“Competing demands from other sectors for skilled trades such as carpenters, electricians and plumbers, are compounding the shortage of tradespeople in residential building.
“The HIA Trades Availability Index, which measures the industry’s perception of the availability of each skilled trade, sat at -0.64 in the final quarter of 2023, virtually unchanged for much of the past 12 months.
“The return of overseas workers made a marked difference in addressing what were the most acute shortages of skilled tradespeople since HIA started this Report in 2003.
“The lack of improvement for much of 2023, however, shows the industry is still struggling to find the skilled tradespeople it needs.
“Competition for skilled tradespeople from other sectors – including public infrastructure and other non-residential projects – is intense. All sectors are now employing significantly more construction workers than just a decade ago.
“This has made it harder for Australia’s home builders to complete the significant pipeline of work taken on during the pandemic.
“It has also pushed up the price of skilled trades, which increased by 5.0 per cent in 2023. While this is a welcome moderation from the near-10 per cent increase a year earlier, it is still much stronger than the 2.0 per cent average annual increase that prevailed before the pandemic.
“This ongoing demand for skilled tradespeople across the country reinforces the need for polices to attract skilled migrants to Australia.
“Access to skilled migration is essential to respond to cyclical changes in demand. This includes a streamlined and simplified visa program for in-demand trades.
“There also needs to be a conscious effort to promote careers in the industry. There needs to be more support for the apprenticeships and businesses that help train and upskill our existing and future workforce,” concluded Mr Devitt.
By trade, the most acute shortages existed in ceramic tiling (-1.04) and bricklaying (-1.03), followed by carpentry (-0.84), roofing (-0.81) and plastering (-0.79). Shortages are more modest in electrical (-0.21), plumbing (-0.33) and site preparation (-0.36) trades.
By region, the most acute shortages of skilled tradespeople at the end of 2023 were in Perth (-0.89) and Adelaide (-0.84), followed by regional South Australia (-0.76), Brisbane (-0.72), Melbourne (-0.70), Sydney (-0.58), regional New South Wales (-0.56), regional Queensland (-0.54), regional Western Australia (-0.48) and regional Victoria (-0.47).
HIA Trade Availability Index
Federal Government confirms funding for Territory apprentices during visit to Darwin
“The Housing Industry Association (HIA) is pleased to welcome Minister Andrew Giles to the HIA NT Skills Centre in Darwin, providing an opportunity to showcase the Northern Territory’s training pipeline and discuss the continued challenges facing the local residential building industry,” HIA Executive Director Northern Territory, Luis Espinoza, said today.
Housing Australia launches Round 3 funding
The Federal Government, through Housing Australia, has announced a third round of funding, in support of its commitment to the building of 1.2 million homes over the next 5 years.
Christmas Comes Early for Housing: HIA Backs Premier’s Action Agenda
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) today welcomed Premier Rockliff’s announcement of the Tasmanian Government’s next 100-day plan, which commits a suite of housing and planning reforms to fast-track new homes and cut red tape.
Key changes under the QBCC Bill
The Queensland Government recently announced the next phase of the ‘Building Reg Reno’ reforms, including various changes under the Queensland Building and Construction Commission and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025.