Canberra's housing crisis is not just about the number of houses being built, but also about the people who build them. The Master Builders ACT CEO, Anna Neelagama, argues that the ACT government needs to invest in training and skills development to address the growing shortage of construction workers. The current workforce pipeline is weakening, with apprenticeship commencements and in-training numbers down 9% and 17% respectively year-on-year. This is despite incentives such as fee-free courses and payments of up to $10,000 over the life of an apprenticeship. Neelagama believes that the system is geared towards reporting enrolments rather than showing how many people complete their qualifications, with completion rates stuck at around 30-40%.
One area of concern is the gender imbalance in the construction industry. While the ACT government has acknowledged the link between skills shortages and gender imbalance, the response so far has been limited to a try-a-trade program in schools. Neelagama argues that there needs to be more meaningful support for women entering the workforce, as well as support for employers prepared to recruit, train and retain female apprentices and workers. Other jurisdictions are investing in mentoring, retention programs, employer incentives and workforce participation initiatives, but the ACT is still lagging behind.
Neelagama also highlights the need for a more honest conversation about workplace flexibility and industrial settings. She believes that if the ACT government wants to achieve its housing ambitions, it needs to invest in the people who will deliver them, not just in the headlines announcing them. The Master Builders ACT is hosting the inaugural Master Builders ACT Sustainability Expo on June 24th, a practical, industry-focused event dedicated to advancing sustainability in the ACT building and construction sector.
In my opinion, the ACT government needs to take a more proactive approach to addressing the skills shortage in the construction industry. While incentives and programs are a start, they are not enough. The government needs to invest in a broader skills strategy that focuses on commencements, completions, retention and participation. Only then can Canberra's housing ambitions become a reality, and not just a pipe dream.
