MPAQ Calls For Stronger Government Support Amidst Anticipated Construction Workers Shortage

Queensland's plumbing sector is urgently calling on the Government to step in following a new report highlighting critical workforce shortages in the state's construction industry in the lead up to the Olympics.

The report, Horizon 2032: Imagining Queensland’s Future Construction Workforce, comes from Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) and outlines a decade of unprecedented growth and challenges for the state’s construction industry.

With Queensland’s construction pipeline forecast to grow from $53 billion in 2024-25 to a peak of $77 billion in 2026-27, the report highlights the key drivers behind this surge, including record population growth, the transition to net-zero, and the infrastructure demands of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

CSQ CEO Geoff Clare emphasised the opportunities and challenges ahead.

“The next decade presents an extraordinary opportunity to shape Queensland’s future, but it also brings a significant workforce challenge,” Mr Clare said. “Construction workforce shortages are anticipated to persist across the eight years, intensifying to a 50,000 shortfall in 2026-27. Our industry must act now to ensure we have the skilled labour needed to meet demand.”

Urgent Need To Support Employers To Take On More Apprentices

The Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) report also reported that the average construction workforce required over the 8-years to deliver the construction pipeline in the lead up to the Olympics is forecast at 122,600 – around 8,000 of these will be plumbers.

The Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland (MPAQ) says the sector urgently needs support from Governments to put through more apprentices in order to meet the demand.

Currently, the cost to an employer to train an apprentice is over $250,000 - with only 2 per cent in incentives. A recent survey by MPAQ found 63% of their members employ apprentices, 59% would hire more if more funding was available. 

CEO of MPAQ Penny Cornah says without urgent change, employers won't be able to financially justify training the next generation of plumbers.

 Director of Plumbaround Warwick Royal says the average plumber could be spending close to a million dollars over four years to train a group of apprentices, who might leave the industry or go to competitors. This leaves many employers with a negative cost and taste in their mouth about training. 

 He says if the Government can increase financial incentives to make training apprentices cost-effective, the workforce and industry would benefit. 

 "Training apprentices is a must but from a financial perspective, it doesn't make sense. It's going to keep you broke as a business owner without change".

 CEO of MPAQ Penny Cornah says we need investment now if we are to have any chance of meeting the tidal wave of demand the Olympics will bring to the construction workforce generally. 

"Providing more support for employers to take on apprentices can have significant economic, social, and cultural benefits for Queensland. It can help address skill shortages, boost economic growth, support small businesses, and provide significant social benefits for young people."