Construction Worker Shortage in Australia 2026: Latest Data by Trade and State
Yes, Australia has a construction worker shortage. Infrastructure Australia estimates the industry is about 141,000 workers short today, and warns the gap could reach 300,000 by 2027. Every construction trade occupation tracked by Jobs and Skills Australia is listed as in national shortage, and bricklaying, ceramic tiling and roofing are the hardest trades to fill.
Here is the paradox: Australia has more homes under construction than at any point on record (248,733), yet it is still 124,183 homes behind the pace needed for the 1.2 million home target. The constraint is no longer demand or funding. It is people.
This guide covers the latest 2026 figures by trade and state, why the shortage persists, what governments are doing, and how nationally recognised training connects to the trades in shortest supply.
Construction worker shortage at a glance
- 141,000: current estimated shortfall to deliver the public infrastructure pipeline (Infrastructure Australia, 2025).
- 300,000: projected shortfall by 2027 if productivity and workforce reforms stall.
- 116,700: extra housing construction workers needed to meet the 1.2 million homes target (BuildSkills Australia).
- -0.62: HIA Trades Availability Index, March quarter 2026. Anything below zero signals a shortage.
- 109,900: construction apprentices in training at the end of September 2025, the lowest in over four years.
How big is the construction worker shortage in Australia in 2026?
The shortage is large, growing and structural. It is driven by a record pipeline of housing, infrastructure and energy work meeting a workforce that has not grown fast enough.
What does Infrastructure Australia forecast?
What is Infrastructure Australia? Infrastructure Australia is the Commonwealth’s independent infrastructure adviser. Since 2020 it has published an annual Infrastructure Market Capacity Report comparing the construction work governments plan to deliver against the workers and materials available.
Its 2025 report puts Australia’s Major Public Infrastructure Pipeline at $242 billion over five years (2024–25 to 2028–29), up 14% on the previous year. The industry is currently about 141,000 workers short of what that pipeline needs.
After a brief easing in 2024, Infrastructure Australia expects the gap to surge to as much as 300,000 workers by 2027. It also forecasts regional shortages to quadruple between 2025 and 2027.
One caveat matters. The Australian Constructors Association notes that the 300,000 headline includes large housing demand, and says capacity exists right now to deliver some infrastructure projects such as hospitals, roads and energy works. The shortage is real, but it is not evenly spread.
Is there a construction worker shortage in Australia?”
What is the Occupation Shortage List? The Occupation Shortage List is Jobs and Skills Australia’s annual assessment of which occupations employers cannot fill.
The 2025 list showed overall shortages easing, with 29% of assessed occupations in shortage, down from 36% in 2023. Construction did not follow the trend. The Australian Industry Group reports that every construction-specific occupation remains listed as in national shortage, the only industry where this is true.
Which construction trades have the biggest shortage?
Bricklaying has the most acute shortage of any residential trade, followed by ceramic tiling, roofing, carpentry and plastering.
What is the HIA Trades Availability Index? The Housing Industry Association (HIA) Trades Availability Index is a quarterly survey of home builders. It scores how easy it is to find skilled trades on a scale from +2.00 to -2.00. A negative score means demand exceeds supply.
The overall index was -0.47 in the December quarter 2025, then worsened to -0.62 in the March quarter 2026.
HIA said access to skilled labour deteriorated across almost all regions and trades as home building picked up.
Electrical trades have consistently recorded the mildest shortages of the trades HIA surveys, sitting close to equilibrium in recent reports.
| Trade | HIA Index (December quarter 2025) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Bricklaying | -1.02 | Most acute shortage |
| Ceramic tiling | -0.88 | Severe shortage |
| Roofing | -0.75 | Shortage |
| Carpentry | -0.62 | Shortage |
| Plastering | -0.54 | Moderate shortage |
Underpinning all of this is a public infrastructure pipeline now valued at roughly $242 billion across FY2025–FY2029 — a 14% increase in just one year.
What is causing the construction worker shortage in Australia?
Australia is short of construction workers because demand has surged across several sectors at once while the supply of new tradespeople has not kept pace. Five factors drive most of the gap.
A record work pipeline
Housing targets, transport, energy transition projects, AUKUS defence works and preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics all draw on the same workforce.
New competition from data centres
The Property Council says housing now competes for workers with infrastructure, the energy transition and a fast-growing data centre sector.
Apprentices leaving before qualifying
Master Builders Australia reports 28,290 construction apprentices exited training early without a qualification in 2025, more than the number who completed.
A narrow talent pool
Women make up just 13% of the construction workforce and 4% of trades, according to Infrastructure Australia.
Regional gaps
Regional areas have fewer training providers and limited worker housing, and shortages there are forecast to grow fastest.
AUKUS-related Osborne shipyard expansion — are driving sustained demand for construction and project trades in Adelaide and beyond.
Regional shortages, notably, are forecast to grow even faster than metro shortages — quadrupling between 2025 and 2027 as renewable energy and infrastructure projects increasingly move outside capital cities.
How can you train for an in-demand construction trade in Australia?
You can enter construction through an apprenticeship or through nationally recognised vocational training, then build experience on site. Strong job outcomes are well documented: the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) reports 95% of trade apprentices were employed after completing their training.
Austra College is a registered training organisation (RTO 40336, CRICOS 03187D) with campuses in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. Its construction qualifications line up with several of the trades in shortest supply:
- Bricklaying (the most acute shortage): CPC33020 – Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying
- Carpentry: CPC30220 – Certificate III in Carpentry
- Plastering and lining: CPC31020 – Certificate III in Solid Plastering and CPC31220 – Certificate III in Wall and Ceiling Lining
- Roofing-related: CPC32620 – Certificate III in Roof Plumbing
- Finishing trades: CPC30620 – Certificate III in Painting and Decorating and CPC31420 – Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing
- Site and project leadership: CPC50220 – Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
Ready to build a career in construction? Explore Austra College’s construction courses or call 1800 228 787 to speak with an adviser.
Why Now
The combination of a record infrastructure pipeline, an ageing existing workforce, and persistent shortages across every construction trade means demand for newly trained, work-ready tradespeople isn’t slowing down any time soon. For anyone considering a hands-on career with strong long-term demand, the data makes a clear case for starting now.
Ready to build a career in construction? Explore Austra College’s construction courses across our NSW, VIC, WA and SA campuses.
Key takeaway
Australia’s construction worker shortage is real, widespread and expected to peak around 2027. Every construction trade is listed in national shortage, bricklaying is the tightest, and regional areas are hit hardest. For anyone considering a trade, the data points to strong, sustained demand and good employment outcomes for those who finish their training.
Frequently Asked Questions
Infrastructure Australia estimates a shortfall of about 141,000 workers now, rising to as much as 300,000 by 2027. BuildSkills Australia separately estimates 116,700 extra workers are needed for housing alone.
Bricklaying shows the most acute shortage in HIA’s index (-1.02 in December quarter 2025), followed by ceramic tiling, roofing, carpentry and plastering.
It is mixed but still tight. HIA’s index worsened from -0.47 to -0.62 between late 2025 and March 2026, while apprentice commencements under the Key Apprenticeship Program and completions are rising.
Overseas workers help, but skills recognition takes time and demand is growing faster than supply. Master Builders Australia says migration cannot replace a stronger domestic training pipeline.
Apprenticeships generally run three to four years, and Key Apprenticeship Program payments are spread across 36 months plus completion. Exact duration depends on the trade, your prior experience and the training pathway.
Requirements vary by state and trade. Check with your state or territory licensing authority and confirm your chosen qualification meets those requirements.
