A statewide, structural skills shortage is challenging project timelines and driving up costs. Queensland has an enormous pipeline of work planned, with no end in sight on a return to balance.
We must do more to attract and retain people to our industry and to ensure that they have the appropriate skills to get the job done. We need to start in schools, encouraging young people to see the opportunities that a career in construction provides. We need to welcome skilled workers from overseas and provide bridging opportunities so that their skills can be recognised and any gaps in their knowledge filled. We need to reach beyond traditional sources of workers and break down perceived bias by welcoming more women into our industry.
What we are going to work to deliver
Advocacy with government:
- 1. BuildSkills Australia, Jobs Queensland and Construction Skills Queensland work collaboratively, and in consultation with industry, to ensure an agreed building and construction industry workforce plan.
- 2. Improve careers education in high schools and review pathways from secondary schools into apprenticeships
- 3. Develop an apprentice commencement and retention strategy.
- 4. Increase apprentice wage subsidies to incentivise commencements and offset high supervisory costs in the first year.
- 5. Financial incentives for apprentices on completion of their first year (when apprentices are most likely to drop out), and on completion of the full apprenticeship.
- 6. Support federal migration initiatives to supplement local workforce with permanent skilled workers.
- 7. Continue funding for women in construction programs to encourage women to enter the building and construction industry by improving awareness of pathways, occupations and careers; supporting new female entrants into the industry; providing training and support to female-led businesses; and addressing unacceptable behaviour through education and a bullying and harassment hotline.
Master Builders-led initiatives:
- Continue to roll out the Emerging Women in Construction (EWIC) program providing mentoring, training and networking opportunities to female apprentices in the construction industry.
Promote the valuable contribution of women to our industry, and the opportunities the industry provides for women.
Major Sponsors
