Brisbane 2032 Olympics: 55k more workers needed to build venues

Queensland is staring down the barrel of an astonishing labour shortage when the Olympic Games building blitz begins next year.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie (front) in Bundaberg on Monday to announce a new housing project with Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett and Mayor Helen Blackburn (Instagram image)

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Queensland is on track to be 54,700 construction workers short of what it needs when the Olympic Games building blitz begins next year, with the major gap set to threaten the state’s wider $117bn infrastructure pipeline.

But Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister Jarrod Bleijie remains confident a planned productivity overhaul will help the state meet its record capital works program.

Infrastructure Australia data shows, as of July, Queensland has thousands of vacancies across every construction job group except electricians, carpenters, plumbers and architects.

The state is currently 41,100 jobs short, with Infrastructure Australia forecasting 83,300 workers were needed this month to meet public infrastructure demand with just 42,200 tradies available to deliver it.

In March 2026, the state is forecast to reach its worst shortage of 54,700 — right as it prepares to launch Olympic Games construction.

This includes a general construction and labourer shortage of 10,000 workers, a shortage of 17,000 concreters, 1800 structural steel erectors and 2600 civil engineers.

According to the data, which is based off publicly announced infrastructure projects through to 2028, demand would start decreasing from June 2028.

The last time Queensland had enough construction workers to meet demand was March 2021.

Queensland Major Contractors Association chief executive Andrew Chapman said if the state was to deliver $104bn worth of engineering and construction projects as planned over the next five years, it would need to increase its workforce between 50 and 80 per cent.

An artist’s impression of the main Olympic stadium at Brisbane’s Victoria Park

“If we are able to improve productivity through different delivery approaches, like use of technology, better industrial relations practices on site including flexible RDO schedule in line with the project schedule, managing hot weather impacts better than 28 degrees and work stops … then that peak demand will come down to something that is more manageable,” he said.

The latest Construction Skills Queensland workforce report forecast demand would peak at 156,000 construction workers in 2026–27, with an average shortfall of 18,200 workers every year for the next eight years.

This includes a 50,000 shortfall in 2026-27 — in line with Infrastructure Australia’s projections.

Mr Bleijie said Queensland was unashamedly open for business and would welcome all migrant workers.

“With a laser-like focus on productivity reforms and the biggest infrastructure capital budget in our history, the LNP is pulling all infrastructure levers available,” he said.

CSQ has called for greater apprenticeship support and promotion to help with the state’s dropout rates and a thorough long-term workforce plan, warning that a lack of targeted interventions and persistent labour shortages could see projects plagued by delays and blowouts.

Master Builders Queensland chief executive Paul Bidwell said he agreed with Mr Bleijie that Olympic Games infrastructure would lure tradies to the state, but questioned whether it would attract 18,000 per year.

“If there were 6000 apprentices coming through the system each year and 2000 in skilled migration, we’re still 10,000 short,” he said.

“It begs the question because every month that goes by we can check how many we got and how worse off we could be.”

Biggest labour gaps by occupation March 2026:

General construction 12000

Plant operator 5100

Road based civil plant operator 3600

Concreter 3000

Electrical line workers 2500

Structural steel erector 1800

Rigger & dogman 1300

Crane operator 1000

Project managers 4000

Civil engineers 2600

Land surveyor 1700

Structural engineers 1300

Other engineers 4800

Safety officers 1600

Geotechnical engineers 1100

Biggest labour gaps by occupation July 2025:

General construction -10,000

Plant operator 3700

Road based civil plant operator 3300

Concreter 1700

Electrical line workers 1700

Structural steel erector 1400

Rigger & dogman 900

Crane operator 700

Project managers 3100

Civil engineers 2100

Land surveyor 1800

Structural engineers 1800

Other engineers 3300

Safety officers 1400

Geotechnical engineers 1200

Originally published as Brisbane 2032 Olympics: 55k more workers needed to build venues