Housing build times double as skills shortages grip QLD

Many new Queensland homes are now taking a year to build as the construction sector cops the brunt of the skills shortage gripping the nation.

Construction times have doubled, while the mining industry is spruiking its efforts in emissions reductions to attract more young people to its ranks, as the two sectors cop the brunt of the national skills shortages.

The top 20 occupations in demand in Queensland are largely comprised of jobs in mining, construction, transport and manufacturing, with the demand higher than what is being seen nationally.

It is revealed in analysis of data from Jobs and Skills Australia, which also warned of a looming shortage of cyber security specialists.

Master Builders Queensland warn the shortage in skilled workers in construction meant the build time had doubled – so a two-storey house which would have taken six months to finish was now closer to a year.

Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor said migration was part of the answer to the shortages “gripping the nation”, but it was vital to train up locally to fill vacancies in the long term.

Skills and Training Minister Brendan O'Connor. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis. Ascui

Almost a third of the nation’s job ads for drillers, miners and shot firers are for work in Queensland, according to the data.

More than a quarter of national job vacancies for mining engineers, metal fitters and machinists were also in the sunshine state, while truck drivers and electricians were also in high demand.

Master Builders Queensland boss Paul Bidwell said there were also shortages in tilers, carpenters and steel fixers, which had lead to construction times “broadly doubling”.

“Because we can’t get people it’s going to take longer to build. A two storey home used to take six months to build, now it’s taking 12 months,” he said.

Mr Bidwell said the solution was a combination of migration and training, but neither is a silver bullet.

“There aren’t many levers to pull,” he said.

Master Builders CEO Paul Bidwell. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Queensland Resources Council CEO Ian Macfarlane said they were encouraging more women into the industry, as well as targeting young people by promoting the work being done in the sector to lower emissions and reduce environmental impact.

“We want people, particularly young people, to know they can work for a resources company and make a real difference to the world,” he said.

“We also need young people with the right trade and tertiary qualifications to operate lithium, copper, zinc and cobalt mines, to name a few critical minerals, without which net zero can’t happen.”

Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor said there were skills shortages gripping the nation and those in Queensland reflected the state’s job market.

“Skilled migration will always be part of the labour force equation, but it is vital that we support people locally to obtain the skills they need to fill job vacancies,” he said.

He said the federal and state governments recently announced $200 million to support 37,000 fee-free TAFE and vocational educational training places in priority areas.

These priority areas included mining, construction, aged care, child care, agriculture and hospitality.