Australia Needs About 83,000 More Home Builders: What Skilled Tradespeople Abroad Should Know

News · 2026-09-30 · 4 min read

Australia has a clear goal: build more homes. The challenge is simple to explain. There are not enough workers to build them. A new report from the Housing Industry Association (HIA), called Australia's Future is Built by Tradies, says residential construction is short of about 83,000 skilled workers. If you are a tradesperson overseas and you are thinking about work in Australia from Indonesia or anywhere else, this figure tells you a lot about where demand is going.

Homes cannot be built without workers

The HIA launched the report at Parliament House, just before National Tradies Day. Its main point is easy to follow. Land, money and planning approvals are not enough on their own. You also need trained people to do the actual building.

HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin put it this way: every housing target relies on having skilled workers ready to deliver it. According to the HIA, the shortage is already slowing down the building of new homes. It is also raising building costs. That makes it harder for Australia to make housing more affordable.

Many industries want the same workers

Home building is only one part of the story. Large infrastructure projects need tradespeople too. So do renewable energy, technology and digital economy projects. All of them draw from the same group of skilled workers.

The HIA makes an important point here. Moving workers from one sector to another does not solve anything. It only shifts the gap to a different place. What Australia really needs is a larger total number of skilled people.

For people planning to migrate, this means demand is not limited to a single industry. Carpenters, electricians, plumbers and other trade workers may find chances in several sectors, not only in house building.

The HIA's action list

The report names five areas where the HIA wants governments and industry to take action:

Making trade careers more respected
Attracting more apprentices and helping them complete their training
Giving support to builders who train apprentices
Building stronger paths from school into the trades
Investing in the capacity of the workforce

Most of these ideas focus on the local pipeline. The aim is to bring more young Australians into the trades and help them finish their training. But training takes years, and the shortage is big. For this reason, skilled migration will likely stay part of the discussion about workforce planning.

Four points for overseas tradespeople

Are you already qualified in a trade? Then this report deserves your attention. Here is what it suggests:

Demand covers many areas. Shortages in housing, infrastructure and energy show that skilled trades are still valued in Australia's job market.
Employers feel the pressure. Businesses that cannot find enough staff may be more willing to sponsor skilled workers.
Your qualifications count. Trade careers in Australia are based on nationally recognised qualifications. Getting your skills properly assessed is an important early step.
Rules can change. Occupation lists, visa settings and eligibility rules are updated from time to time. Always check the current requirements before you decide anything.

Getting your papers ready

Good preparation helps. Write a clear CV in English that lists your trade experience. If your visa or employer asks for an English test, plan for IELTS or PTE. If a police certificate is needed, you can request an SKCK from the Indonesian National Police. Have your Indonesian-language documents translated into English when the visa rules require it.

Looking ahead

On National Tradies Day, the HIA is asking for more than a thank-you to tradies. It wants a serious national discussion about how Australia will grow the workforce it needs. Whatever policies come next, the message for future migrants is clear. Australia's building industry needs skilled hands, and that need is unlikely to go away soon.

Planning to move to Australia as a skilled tradesperson? Before you apply, talk to a registered migration professional. Ask for advice that fits your own occupation, experience and visa options.

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