The Australian construction industry is grappling with significant workforce issues that threaten its productivity and future viability, according to the Australian Constructors Association (ACA).

In preparation for its annual benchmark event, Foundations and Frontiers (FF24), the ACA has released a discussion paper focusing on the future workforce.

“At a time when industry productivity is at its lowest in 60 years, the demand for construction workers has never been higher,” said ACA CEO Jon Davies.

“The industry is facing significant workforce imbalances.”

Two major challenges highlighted in the paper are the underrepresentation of women in the construction workforce and high attrition rates.

Only 12 per cent of the industry’s workforce is female, indicating an underutilisation of half of the potential talent pool.

Additionally, more people are leaving the industry than joining it.

“In the eyes of the next generation of workers, construction is an industry that is stuck in the past,” Davies remarked.

“If the construction industry is to survive and thrive, we need to find ways to attract more people into the industry, keep them in the industry for longer and deliver more projects with them when they are working.”

The future workforce paper centres on three key themes: attraction, retention, and productivity.

Feedback from the discussion paper will shape the conversations at the FF24 event in Sydney on August 8, 2024.

“FF24 is more than just a platform for discussing challenges; it is dedicated to finding solutions and improved ways of working together within the industry,” said Davies.

“We invite all stakeholders to engage with the questions in the discussion paper and help shape the future of Australia’s construction industry.

The ACA, the only representative body for contractors delivering major construction projects in Australia, aims to create a more sustainable construction industry through events like FF24 and industry-wide collaboration.

News by Build Australia.