QUEENSLAND OLYMPICS SHORTFALL BUILDING

(c) Taylah Fellows – The Courier Mail

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 and 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.

“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 (CSQ) 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 to help with the state’s dropout rates and a thorough long-term workforce plan.

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