URGENT UPDATE: A severe shortage of skilled tradespeople, including bricklayers, carpenters, and tilers, is gripping regional Australia as demand surges in major cities. The latest findings from the Housing Industry Association (HIA) Trades Availability Index reveal a stark contrast in trade availability between urban centers and regional areas.
Just released data shows that regional Queensland struggles with a score of -0.92, significantly lagging behind Brisbane’s -0.48. Similarly, regional Victoria at -0.46 and regional New South Wales at -0.49 are behind their metropolitan counterparts, Melbourne at -0.21 and Sydney at -0.40.
“When housing and construction demand in cities far exceeds that of regions, tradies go to the cities and the regions are left behind,” stated an HIA spokesperson. This growing disparity is alarming as it indicates a troubling trend for regional economies.
NEW DATA: Skilled trades shortages are becoming increasingly evident outside Sydney and Melbourne. The HIA’s senior economist, Tom Devitt, warned that with a recovering home building pipeline and significant renovations underway, demand for skilled trades is expected to rise even further. “The softening in trades price inflation may also be short-lived,” Devitt added, noting that trades prices have surged by double the broader rate of wage growth since 2019.
Bricklaying leads the pack with an acute shortage score of -1.09, followed by ceramic tiling at -0.86, carpentry at -0.74, and roofing at -0.66. The index reflects the increasing volume of new homes commencing construction, particularly in Western Australia.
The increase in home building has also driven site preparation trades—such as demolition, land clearing, and excavation—up by 8.4 percent in the past year, further complicating the landscape for regional areas.
Devitt emphasized the urgency of the situation: “Without attracting more skilled workers into Australia from overseas and further developing our existing workforce capacity, the shortage of skilled tradespeople is only expected to worsen.”
The HIA Trades Availability Index is calculated through a survey of members—builders and tradespeople—who assess how easy it is to access workers each quarter. As the construction landscape evolves, regional Australia finds itself grappling with a critical workforce crisis.
NEXT STEPS: The nation must focus on attracting skilled workers and investing in training programs to address this urgent shortage. Time is of the essence as regional communities face potential economic downturns without adequate construction resources.
Stay tuned for more updates as this situation develops, impacting both the housing market and local economies across Australia.
