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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationTradies essential to deliver Queensland homes
Tradies essential to deliver Queensland homes
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Australia’s Future is Built by Tradies warns Australia’s residential building industry is already around 83,000 skilled workers short — a shortage being felt strongly in Queensland as the state enters a sustained construction super-cycle.
HIA Queensland Executive Director Mike Roberts said Queensland’s pipeline of work is significant, with strong activity projected through to 2031–32 due to population growth, the energy transition, the 2032 Games and the arrival of new data centres.
“This isn’t a short-term upswing — Queensland is in a prolonged construction super-cycle that will run well into the early 2030s,” Mr Roberts said.
“Queensland needs more homes, but ultimately, we need the people to build them.
“Everyone is looking for electricians, carpenters, roofers and other skilled tradespeople, but industry is drawing from the same limited workforce.
“For housing delivery, that matters. When builders cannot find the workers they need, homes take longer to complete, costs rise and getting more keys into the hands of homebuyers becomes harder.”
The HIA report calls for governments to elevate trade careers, improve apprenticeship attraction and completion, strengthen school-to-trade pathways, support the small businesses that employ apprentices and expand overall workforce capacity.
It also calls for greater regional training opportunities, strategic skilled migration where shortages cannot be filled locally, and improved recognition of overseas trade qualifications.
Mr Roberts said the solution must start with changing how trade careers are presented to young Australians.
“University will remain the right choice for many, but an apprenticeship should never be treated as the second-best option.
“Tradies can earn while they learn, develop skills that will remain in demand and build genuine pathways to running their own business," said Mr Roberts.
“Technology can help design a home, prepare an estimate or manage a project. It still cannot turn up on site and build the house.
“If Queensland wants to build more homes, we need to train, attract and back more tradies.”
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