The HIA’s latest research reveals a notable shift in language diversity within the construction sector, indicating a broader range of languages spoken among workers.
Housing Industry Association (HIA) Executive Director Geordan Murray said despite this trend, the construction industry still rates very poorly when compared to other sectors when it comes to recruiting migrant workers.
“Only 24.2 per cent of the construction industry migrated to Australia at some point, this ranks 16th out of Australia’s 19 major industry sectors.
“The industry is well short of the national average of 32 per cent. The finance and insurance services sector has the largest share of migrant workers at 39.6 per cent.
“This 2.6 percentage point gap ranks as third largest amongst the 19 major industry sectors, only the public administration and education sectors fared worse,” said Murray.
The skilled migration system’s inefficiencies — such as language barriers — are exacerbating labour shortages, leading to longer construction times and increased costs.
The industry has seen significant growth, with a 29 per cent increase in the workforce between 2011 and 2021.
However, only 6.4 per cent of recent migrants have entered the construction sector, significantly lower than the national average.
The industry’s ability to recruit skilled workers from overseas remains a critical issue, with current trends suggesting little improvement soon.
Addressing these challenges is crucial to ensure the industry can meet its targets and contribute effectively to Australia’s housing needs.
