The South Australian government has announced a new partnership with Master Builders SA to address critical workforce shortages in the state’s construction industry.
The $500,000 Build Connect program aims to directly link skilled migrants with employers in the construction sector, supporting the delivery of essential housing and public infrastructure projects.
Build Connect is set to create over 200 employment opportunities through a multi-faceted approach:
- Engaging with at least 100 employers to develop partnerships
- Matching skilled migrants with suitable job vacancies
- Providing recruitment assistance and support services
- Organising in-person networking events to connect participants with potential employers and industry leaders
The program is part of the SA government’s Skilled Migration Talent and Industry Connection Program, which focuses on priority industry sectors to address workforce shortages.
The initiative comes at a crucial time for South Australia’s construction industry.
The state is facing significant demand for new housing, commercial facilities, and major public infrastructure projects.
These include the Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Project, the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital, and the state’s first large-scale hydrogen power station.
Nick Champion, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, emphasised the program’s importance, stating: “South Australia needs more tradies to help us build new homes and deliver major state infrastructure projects.
“The Build Connect program will provide a much-needed boost that will help to address critical workforce shortages to support our extensive Housing Roadmap initiatives.”
Will Frogley, CEO of Master Builders SA, highlighted the scale of the challenge, stating: “We need to attract 30,000 workers to our industry over the next three years to meet demand, including 15,000 skilled tradies.”
Frogley noted that while local talent attraction efforts are ongoing, skilled migration is crucial to meeting these targets.
The Build Connect program is expected to benefit both onshore and offshore skilled migrants, including those already in South Australia but not working in their chosen field.
As South Australia continues to grow, this partnership between the government and Master Builders SA represents a significant step towards ensuring the state has the skilled workforce needed to support its ambitious construction and infrastructure plans.
