Australia’s building industry is looking for a new immigration option in order to meet housing demands due to a shortage of workers. 500,000 skilled people are urgently needed by 2029.

Leaders in the sector are urging immediate action in response to the continuous problems facing Australia’s building and construction sector, which include government building targets, infrastructure needs, growing costs, and a housing crisis.

The creation of a customized immigration track adapted to the particular requirements of the industry is a crucial suggestion. This campaign is a reaction to a report that highlights the present challenges with obtaining visas, which are not only expensive but also hampered by protracted processing delays.

The situation is serious, with 1.2 million homes under the Housing Deal scheduled for construction by 2029 and an additional 500,000 workers required. Most of these new jobs will require trained tradespeople, whose demand is expected to rise in order to reach Australia’s net zero aims by 2050 as well as housing and infrastructure targets.

There will be a severe shortage, according to recent data, requiring 90,000 additional trade workers just between March 2023 and June 2024. A study conducted in April 2024 among industry participants revealed that the strain is increasing, with the majority reporting difficulties in locating suitable labor. Major constraints included a lack of relevant skills and high employment costs.

Although there has been a minor reduction in the number of apprentices, the construction industry continues to be Australia’s largest employer. Furthermore, data shows that non-Australian-born employees in the sector frequently make more money than their Australian-born peers, with more than half making above $78,000 a year.

The need for a new visa designed especially for the construction industry highlights how vital it is to address the labor shortages endangering the sector’s ability to achieve national objectives.