Stockland CEO Tarun Gupta has urged a dramatic increase in Australia’s skilled migration intake to address critical shortages in the construction sector.
Speaking on ABC Radio National Breakfast, Gupta stated that the current migration program requires five times more skilled construction workers to meet the nation’s housing and infrastructure demands.
Gupta’s comments highlight a persistent bottleneck threatening Australia’s ability to deliver on ambitious housing targets.
With the National Housing Accord aiming for 1.2 million new homes over five years, industry leaders warn that labour shortages are delaying projects and inflating costs.
Stockland, one of Australia’s largest residential developers, plans to ramp up deliveries from 7,000 homes last year to 9,000 this year, underscoring the urgency for a robust workforce.
The appeal comes amid broader industry frustration with migration policies that fail to prioritise trades essential for building.
Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn has noted that construction trades are significantly underrepresented in migrant intakes, with fragmented skills recognition processes leaving thousands of qualified workers sidelined.
Only about 5 per cent of new industry entrants over the past five years have been migrants, despite a quarter of the workforce being foreign-born.
Recent skilled migration invitation rounds show some progress in addressing construction needs, but remain insufficient for housing demands.
South Australia’s February 2026 round issued exactly 12 invitations to Construction Trades Workers (ANZSCO Group 33) out of totals spanning 225-364 invitations across categories. Health Professionals received 88 invitations, while Design, Engineering, Science, and Transport Professionals got 62.
National rounds through SkillSelect emphasise demand-driven selection for engineering and technical occupations, though experts like those from Master Builders Australia argue the system requires major reform (including targeted trade quotas) to directly bolster housing supply.
Gupta’s warning echoes earlier concerns he raised in 2025, when he predicted house price spikes within 12-24 months without intervention via training and targeted migration.
Interest rate cuts are now spurring demand, while construction costs rise, risking supply-demand imbalances.
He emphasised levers like expedited environmental approvals and TAFE apprenticeships, but stressed immigration as irreplaceable for immediate impact.
The federal government has prioritised skilled migrants, granting over two-thirds of 185,000 spots to this category, but stakeholders demand faster qualification recognition and SME-friendly processes.
As Stockland surges production in master-planned communities and logistics, Gupta’s call amplifies a sector-wide plea for policy alignment.