Australia’s construction industry has found itself at a crossroads as profit margins on projects are squeezed and skilled trades and construction professionals are hard to find.
With fewer available candidates in the job market and declining numbers of people entering a trade, construction companies have seen significant pressures in fulfilling projects and increases in labour costs for both trades and construction professionals, putting further pressure on profit margins.
Is there a way to balance the scales?
If you operate a larger-scale construction business, rather than wasting thousands of dollars advertising to attract talent which does not exist in Australia and losing revenue due to a lack of human resources to deliver projects, implementing a talent mobility solution to source, access and deploy skilled workers from overseas may be the answer.
The construction workforce crisis
Australia’s construction sector is facing an acute shortage of skilled workers.
“In an April survey of Master Builders members, 85% said it was a struggle to find suitably qualified workers, and 66% said sourcing workers was the biggest issue facing the industry.” The Guardian – November 2 2024
The shortage spans project-critical roles, from carpenters and bricklayers to project managers and engineers. This skills gap is having a direct impact on the sector’s ability to meet ambitious housing targets set by the government to combat the housing crisis.
Visa pathways for construction workers
On December 7 2024, the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa was replaced by the Skills in Demand (SID) visa to help address critical skill shortages across a variety of industries in Australia. The SID visa is tied to occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
This change has been designed to better address the shortages across all impacted industries including construction, with most trades eligible for skilled work visas under the SID program, or otherwise under a Labour Agreement.
The need for smarter solutions
While some may argue introducing overseas construction candidates only exacerbates a housing shortage, recruiting and deploying the right individuals has the potential to support the solution.
A tailored and strategic approach to talent mobility is required. This involves the following:
International workforce strategy
An international workforce strategy involves mapping the skills in demand in your business, against the eligible occupations for skilled work visas in Australia. Talent mapping requires identifying the qualifications and skills needed, pinpointing global markets with a surplus of skilled workers and ensuring their skills and qualifications are equivalent to Australian standards – both for visa and job-readiness purposes. It may also involve pre-deployment training and upskilling programs to prepare incoming talent for work in Australia.
At The Migration Agency, sustainability is a core principle of our talent mobility strategy. We are committed to exploring options for sourcing skilled workers from countries with a surplus of talent. Our comprehensive talent-sourcing process includes:
Attracting and identifying from high-potential markets
We work with our clients to explore countries like the Philippines and India, which are actively preparing a workforce for global industries.
Quality assurance
Our specialists evaluate candidates’ qualifications and competencies to ensure they meet host-country standards while supporting their professional growth.
Workforce planning
The Migration Agency collaborates with organisations to forecast workforce needs, aligning recruitment efforts with long-term industry requirements.
We also encourage investment in training and upskilling initiatives in source countries, which can create mutual benefits.
How The Migration Agency helps construction businesses
Integrating overseas talent offers a pragmatic solution to the construction industry’s current crisis, while strategic talent mapping helps organisations to have the right people in the right positions at the right time. This strategy also gives skilled tradespeople and construction professionals a pathway to a rewarding career in Australia, whether they stay for an individual project or for the long term.
By leveraging The Migration Agency’s expertise, construction industry employers can access the skilled professionals they need and build their version of a stable, future-ready workforce.
Book a workforce planning consultation with The Migration Agency today and discover how we can help your organisation bridge the skills gap and secure the talent you need to succeed.