The construction industry is facing a major crisis in the coming years. With many skilled workers nearing retirement age and a lack of younger workers entering the industry, there is a serious shortage of talent. This is why Master Builders Australia has developed a plan to address this issue and ensure that the construction industry continues to thrive.
In this blog post, we will take a closer look at Master Builders Australia’s plan and how it aims to tackle the looming construction worker crisis.
In a recent report released by Master Builders Australia, it is suggested that there are some adjustments that Australia can make to address its severe lack of construction workers. The implementation includes broadening the representation of women, eliminating prejudices in career choices, and enhancing the recognition of foreign credentials.
According to the organization’s findings, approximately 486,000 new workers must enter the construction and building industry by 2026 to meet demand and replace retirees. Most of those who enter the industry will do so through a trade apprenticeship, accounting for nearly half the required workforce.
Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia, stated, “Construction is the backbone of the Australian economy, employing approximately 1.3 million people, providing infrastructure, commercial and community buildings, and homes for the growing population.”
As per the report, the industry will need a significant workforce to undertake the necessary building and construction work. With Australia’s population growth projected to grow by over 50% between 2022 and 2060, reaching nearly 40 million people.
More than 4,000 job postings for construction managers were found online in February 2023, and there were more than 1,000 openings for carpenters, plumbers, and labourers in the building trades.
It follows research from the public Abilities Need Rundown for 2022 that distinguished almost 50% of exchange occupations and around 40% of expert jobs in Australia in 2022 were in short supply.
According to Wawn, “the nature of work is evolving in the industry due to increasing business specialization, more off-site building, frequent job changes, technology integration, and complex regulatory requirements.”
Additional Read: UK – Vacancies decline monthly but remain significantly above pre-covid levels: Apsco.
The report makes many recommendations, including addressing bias in career selection because young people are increasingly being pushed to college at the expense of vocational education and training (VET) courses.
In 2019, the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) found that 71.2% of university graduates found full-time employment, while 91.5% of trade apprentices were employed upon completion.
28.3% of university graduates who found work said they aren’t using their skills or education to their full potential. In contrast, 94.6 percent of tradespeople assert that their skills directly relate to their jobs.
Further report states that, the VET framework is inadequately perceived, and numerous youngsters feel they are not given a profound comprehension of post-school choices and are rather pushed toward college, while just 10% of youngsters report confronting no strain by any means.
The fact that the two components of Australia’s tertiary education system are treated differently and, as a result, valued differently by the people of Australia must be acknowledged by policymakers and decision-makers at the government level. Decisive action is required to accord higher education and vocational education equal importance truly.
To make everything fair, it is decided to address the predisposition toward college, conquer misguided judgments, and redesign the quality, subsidizing, and accessibility of professions training in optional and senior auxiliary schools.
According to the report, women represent a “massive opportunity” to increase the pool of potential workers, which also calls for the industry to improve gender diversity. In 2022, 2,220 women began a trade apprenticeship, more than four times the average of 599 over the previous 20 years, according to NCVER.
Additional Read: The Departure of More than 500,000 Workers Put the UK Economy in Danger
Qualified painter Karly Gaffy said in the report, that the best decision she ever made was to complete her apprenticeship. It’s never going to be simple. However, she guaranteed that everything will work out.
Additionally, the Master Builders Australia report calls for enhanced recognition of comparable international qualifications and experience, especially in trades.
Further, the report stated, lengthy delays hamper processes for trade recognition and assessment. A trade recognition assessment “should not be required where it is established that a particular country’s standards are comparable to or exceed Australian requirements.
Guaranteeing that Australia keeps on being an appealing objective for long-lasting travelers, especially gifted transients, is basic. This will expect legislatures to guarantee the approach setting for the movement framework is universally serious, and the networks keep being lively, firm, and inviting conditions.
The other recommendations for combating critical situation include the following:-
- A rolling apprentice retention strategy,
- Developing a digital apprenticeship platform to enhance training contact, and
- Establishing a national mentoring program.
The report also states, “Attracting enough people to meet the demands of the coming decades is a major challenge. However, policies around training and education, industrial relations, workforce development, and skilled migration offer opportunities to build a more productive labor force.”
It is essential to ensure that the pathways into and within the industry are adaptable to the shifting and diverse needs of workers, businesses, and employers by comprehending emerging and future workforce skills requirements.
We at Dynamic Staffing Services can provide you with potential talents for your business. If you are interested, you can call us at +44-7477196844 or email enquiry@dss-hr.co.uk. Additionally, you can subscribe to our newsletter to be updated with the latest industry news and trends.
