New South Wales will need to train an additional 140,000 construction workers to meet demand for $469 billion worth of projects over the next five years, according to new analysis by Master Builders NSW.
Labour shortages are already putting pressure on costs and slowing the delivery of new housing, the latest Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) report warns.
Master Builders NSW Executive Director Matthew Pollock said construction activity in the state is expected to increase by more than 18% compared to the previous five years.
Mr Pollock said,
“We need to see a corresponding increase in the construction workforce if we are to deliver the $469 billion in projects in the pipeline.”
Major projects are driving the surge, including the $57 billion Sydney Metro, Australia’s largest public transport project, which is scheduled for completion by 2032.
Adding to the challenge, a Build Skills Australia report estimates another 37,000 workers will be needed to meet the Federal Government’s housing accord targets in NSW.
Mr Pollock called for greater government investment in targeted, industry-led training programs, saying these initiatives have been effective in boosting apprentice numbers and improving completion rates.
“With the record pipeline of work ahead of us, there has never been a better time to take up a trades apprenticeship. We have more work to do than people to do it,” he added.
He added that encouraging more women and people from diverse backgrounds to join the industry will be key to meeting workforce demands.
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