Thousands of new apprentices are expected to ease pressure on construction costs, strengthening the industry’s capacity to deliver new housing.
Even as workforce shortages begin to improve, limited land supply remains the primary obstacle to building more homes and addressing affordability.
From 1 July 2025 to 1 January 2026, the program has seen 11,407 Housing Construction Apprenticeship commencements, with the top 5 occupations being:
The program aims to tackle critical labour shortages in the building sector and accelerate the delivery of new homes nationwide, with eligible apprentices able to access up to $10,000 in financial support over the course of their training.
Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn at a recent media conference thanked the Government for listening and said that these commencement figures are a positive sign in efforts to rebuild the labour pipeline and to build more homes.
“These apprentices have great careers ahead of them with 95% of trade apprentices obtaining jobs after completing their training," Wawn said.
“Employers play a pivotal role in successful apprentice outcomes, and we need to ensure that they have the right tools and certainty required in setting apprentices up for lasting careers.
"It is therefore vital that the incentives are designed to support employers in retaining apprentices and providing quality on‑the‑job training."
