Queensland's growing pipeline of major projects is putting an increasing premium on skilled construction workers.
Workforce planning must keep pace if the state is to deliver the homes it desperately needs, said HIA executive director of Queensland Michael Roberts.
“Plans for the Western Downs data centre development near Dalby, highlight the scale of new investment coming into Queensland and the need to ensure there are enough skilled workers to support both major projects and residential construction," said Roberts.
Roberts said Queensland shouldn't have to choose between attracting major investment and building more homes.
“Queensland should not have to choose between attracting major investment and building more homes, the state has enormous opportunities ahead of it, but we need the construction workforce to match those ambitions," said Roberts.
“Projects such as the Western Downs data centre, which will be the biggest of its kind in Australia, will require a significant construction workforce in a region that is already experiencing a challenging shortfall.
“The centre will span 725.5 hectares, drawing as much electricity as about 1.5 million average Australian households, which represents roughly 28 per cent of Queensland’s total daily power consumption."
Roberts said, the central issue is how the workforce keeps pace with that investment.
“The important question is how we grow the workforce so Queensland can deliver these major projects without adding further pressure to the cost and availability of new housing," said Roberts.
“Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, civil contractors and other skilled workers are already in strong demand across housing, infrastructure, resources and energy.
“Adding more major projects to that pipeline without increasing the overall pool of skilled workers inevitably increases competition for labour.
"For residential builders, particularly small businesses, that can mean higher labour costs, longer construction times and ultimately greater pressure on the cost of delivering a new home.
“This isn’t about putting the brakes on data centres or major investment.
"Queensland needs investment and it needs the infrastructure that will support the economy of the future.
“Housing cannot simply be expected to absorb ever-increasing competition for skilled workers while simultaneously being asked to build significantly more homes and improve affordability.
“We need a bigger construction workforce, not an increasingly expensive contest over the workforce we already have."
Roberts said the solution is to centre on growing the workforce, rather than competing over its existing size.
“That means supporting apprentices and the small businesses that train them, attracting more people into construction careers and ensuring skilled migration settings can respond to genuine shortages in residential building," Roberts said.
“Queensland can build the infrastructure of the future, and the homes Queenslanders need.
“But if we want to do both, workforce planning needs to be every bit as ambitious as the investment announcements."
