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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationNew report outlines path to tackling Australia's tradie shortage
New report outlines path to tackling Australia's tradie shortage
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Released ahead of this week’s National Tradies Day, HIA's new report, Australia's Future is Built by Tradies, highlights a shortage of around 83,000 skilled workers across the residential construction industry and sets out five priorities to strengthen Australia's future workforce.
HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin said skilled tradespeople are essential to delivering the homes Australians need.
"Every housing target ultimately depends on having enough skilled people available to build those homes," Ms Martin said.
"Tradies build our homes, maintain our communities and help Australians recover after natural disasters, yet the industry is facing significant workforce shortages at a time when demand for housing continues to grow.”
The report finds workforce shortages are slowing housing delivery, increasing construction costs and making it harder to improve housing affordability.
With governments pursuing ambitious housing targets, and growing competition for skilled workers from infrastructure, energy and digital economy projects, Ms Martin said Australia must focus on growing the overall workforce.
"The solution is not moving workers from one sector to another. It is increasing the number of skilled people entering and completing trade careers.
"Housing, infrastructure, energy and technology projects all rely on skilled trades. If we want to achieve our national objectives across all of these areas, we need a larger and stronger workforce.”
The report identifies five priority areas for action:
- Elevate the status of trade careers
- Improve apprenticeship attraction and completion
- Support the builders who train Australia's workforce
- Strengthen school-to-trade pathways
- Invest in workforce capacity
Ms Martin said trade careers offer secure employment, strong earning potential and pathways to business ownership.
"Trade careers provide an opportunity to earn while you learn, develop practical skills and build a rewarding long-term career.
"Many of Australia's most successful small and large businesses in residential construction started with a trade qualification and an apprenticeship.
"As we approach National Tradies Day, this report is not only an opportunity to recognise the contribution of tradies, but to have a serious national conversation about building the workforce Australia will need in the decades ahead,” concluded Ms Martin.
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