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113,700 more construction workers needed by 2024

Carpentry is among on-demand skills across all states.

Bricklaying, carpentry and plumbing are among the most on-demand jobs across all states, as highlighted by the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business during the National Skills Week.

Held from August 23 to 29, the National Skills Week invites Australians to ‘RE-THINK’ their ideas of what Vocational Education and Training is all about and the role it can have in preparing people for work for the future, especially in a post-pandemic economy.

Now moving into its eleventh year, a key objective of National Skills Week is to identify and highlight industries with the most in-demand jobs of the future as well as sectors forecast to see the biggest growth in coming years.

Building and construction has been listed among the key job growth areas, among other sectors with skills shortages such as health and community care, disability care, cyber security, hospitality and mining.

Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business estimates that 113,700 more workers will be needed in building and construction by 2024, an increase of 9.7 per cent, with growth being strongest in capital cities than regional areas.

New South Wales, Tasmania and ACT are experiencing skills shortages in all trades, including bricklaying, carpentry, painting, plastering, plumbing and electrical trades, while Victoria and South Australia  have shortages in most trades (excluding painting in Victoria and plumbing in SA).

Queensland has a shortage of plumbers in the regions and bricklayers in all areas, while Western Australia has no identified shortages and the Northern Territory only has a shortage of plumbers.

At a national level, stonemasonry, tiling and glazing are all experiencing skills shortages.

Held annually, the vision of National Skills Week is to raise awareness on the diversity of careers which can be realised through vocational education and training, the skills for an economically viable future, and the incredible range of new jobs and skills in demand for the future.

National Skills Week 2021 will be centred around asking people to ‘Re-think’ their ideas of VET – and to discover, challenge, and explore what is on offer. The focus will be on challenging perceptions of vocational education and training, reimagining bold and innovative ideas for young Australians to take on their careers and to reassess the value of the VET sector, especially in the country-wide pursuit of economic recovery.

“National Skills Week plays a pivotal role in strengthening and communicating the key messages of industry and government in an environment shaped by the fluid nature of skills requirements and ever-evolving technologies,” said Mr Wexham.

“This initiative is designed to achieve real, transformative outcomes for Australian people – to inspire people to undertake active, participative education and training that VET provides resulting in skills that can realise immediate rewards in jobs, success and contribute to building our economy.”


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