SA construction industry figures call for more skilled migrants to fill labour shortfalls

SA construction industry leaders propose a bold solution to fill workforce gaps and tackle the state’s housing crisis.

Construction industry heavyweights are calling upon the government to attract more skilled migrants to fill the state’s workforce shortfalls, as further land is released to keep up with demand.

Master Builders SA chief executive Will Frogley said the industry was “crying out for skills”.

“We need to attract 30,000 workers to our industry over the next three years to meet demand, including 15,000 skilled tradies,” he said.

Business owners like Thomas Schlueter, who runs one of the state’s largest tiling businesses, North Adelaide Tiling, said skilled migrants could be the key.

Mr Schlueter said his industry relies on migrant workers to fill crucial workforce shortfalls. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“We depend on a migrant workforce and many South Australians appear unaware just how many industry sectors do,” he said.

“It is slowly getting better as more and more migrants come, but now we have the issue of housing them.”

Mr Schlueter described the workforce issue as a vicious cycle — the industry needs migrant workers to fill labour shortfalls, but the workers have nowhere to live as the housing does not exist yet.

Director of HPG Homes Val Fuda agreed that more skilled migrants were necessary.

Val Fuda From HPG Homes said tilers were one of the most in demand workers. Picture: RoyVPhotography

He said “wet trades”, such as tiling, concreting and bricklaying, were the most in demand in the state.

“The fact is we need skilled migrants to build homes,” Mr Fuda told The Advertiser.

“The tradies here are screaming for help.”

The number of skilled migrants working in construction in the state grew by 28 per cent between 2017 and 2022, though at a slower rate than total migrant workers.

This graph shows the growth in migrant workers in the state’s construction industry.

Tiler Mohammad Asif Nowrozi, 48, is one of those skilled migrants.

He arrived in South Australia from Afghanistan in 2012, initially working in a food processing factory.

“I wanted a higher income because I’m still supporting my family back home, so I moved into tiling,” Mr Nowrozi said.

Mr Nowrozi has lived apart from his family for 13 years and credits tiling for allowing him to continue to support them from afar. Picture: Supplied

Mr Frogley was confident the Build Connect program would encourage skilled migrants to work in the state. Supplied

He said he had previously tiled in Afghanistan and Iran, but still had to become qualified in Australia.

“I always have work now in tiling — I am happy doing it,” he said.

Mr Nowrozi is the type of hidden construction worker now being targeted by a new initiative launched by Master Builders SA (MBSA) and the state government this year — Build Connect.

Mr Frogley said the program would help address the shortage of workers by connecting skilled migrants to construction businesses in need.

“Many of these workers are already in South Australia, but not in their chosen field — this program fast tracks their training to put them on a path to success.”

Housing Minister Nick Champion said the program would complement the government’s housing strategy.

“The Build Connect program will provide a much-needed boost that will help to address critical workforce shortages to support our extensive Housing Roadmap initiatives,” he said.

Originally published as SA construction industry figures call for more skilled migrants to fill labour shortfalls