MMC encompasses a range of innovative approaches to designing, manufacturing and delivering buildings, including prefabrication, modular construction, advanced manufacturing techniques and other offsite production methods. While these approaches represent a shift in how homes are built, the report highlights that the industry's existing workforce and training systems are well placed to accommodate growing adoption of these methods.

"HIA has long argued that MMC is not about replacing workers, but about changing where and how work is undertaken across the building and construction supply chain," said HIA Executive Director Future Workforce, Mike Hermon.

"The report makes it clear that as the industry adopts new construction methods, the need for skilled workers does not disappear. Instead, tasks may shift between construction sites, manufacturing facilities, design functions and supply chain operations."

The report finds that existing vocational and professional training frameworks can largely support MMC adoption through targeted upskilling, skills deepening and adaptation of current qualifications, rather than the creation of entirely new occupational pathways.

"This is an important finding because it recognises that Australia's building workforce already possesses many of the foundational skills required to support MMC," Mr Hermon said.

"The challenge is less about creating a whole new workforce and more about ensuring workers, supervisors, designers and manufacturers can build on their existing skills and apply them in new ways."

HIA welcomed the report's four priority reform areas, which focus on practical workforce development measures that can be implemented alongside industry adoption.

These priorities include:

• Upskilling professional and paraprofessional occupations involved in design, engineering, project management and construction delivery.
• Supporting structured learning and training arrangements for proprietary MMC systems and products.
• Improving labour market signalling to help industry and training providers respond to emerging demand, rather than creating entirely new training pathways prematurely.
• Monitoring MMC adoption rates and workforce impacts before considering broader reforms to qualifications and training structures.

"The report adopts a sensible and evidence-based approach," Mr Hermon said.

"It recognises that MMC adoption remains at varying stages across different construction sectors and regions. Future workforce reforms should be informed by actual uptake and demonstrated skills needs rather than assumptions about how quickly these methods may be adopted."

HIA said the report also reinforces the importance of maintaining flexible training arrangements allowing industry to respond to innovation without creating unnecessary complexity within the vocational education and training system.

"As Australia seeks to lift productivity and increase housing supply, MMC will play an important role alongside traditional construction methods," Mr Hermon said.

"The key message from this report is that innovation and workforce development can progress together. The industry's workforce remains central to delivering the homes Australia needs, regardless of whether construction occurs entirely onsite, offsite, or through a combination of both."

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