Fewer Projects, Higher Costs
Construction activity is slowing, especially in Western Sydney, where many developers cannot make projects stack up.
Key pressures:
- Construction costs rising across all regions
- Similar building costs in outer suburbs and premium suburbs
- Developers unable to deliver homes under $1M
- Approved sites sitting idle because feasibility is too tight
This means fewer cranes, fewer apartments, and fewer new homes entering the market.
Why Tradies Are Disappearing
Young Australians are choosing paths other than trades. Many prefer indoor work, stable salaries, or university pathways.
Common barriers:
- Physically demanding work and long-term body strain
- Inconsistent income for small operators
- Payment disputes and cashflow risk
- Harsh outdoor conditions in extreme heat
- More appealing options like mining or large infrastructure projects
Mining, in particular, is pulling qualified tradies away with higher pay and better rosters.
The Mining Effect
Many trained tradies work in mining teams instead of construction.
Why mining wins:
- Higher weekly pay
- Stable full-time rosters
- Better income certainty
- Ability to retain trade skills without running a business
When mining slows, these workers may return — but right now they are leaving a large gap in the construction workforce.
What This Means for Housing Supply
Australia needs more tradies to build more homes. Without them:
Impacts include:
- Project delays
- Higher construction prices
- Fewer off the plan developments
- Slower delivery of housing targets
- Less supply, causing upward pressure on prices
A shortage of tradies = a shortage of homes.
What Needs to Change
To fix the crisis, Australia must make trades attractive again.
Priority solutions:
- Better treatment and pay for apprentices
- Faster pathways into trades for young workers
- Skilled migration targeted at construction
- More stable income models for small tradie businesses
- Stronger enforcement on payment security
Without a stronger workforce, Australia cannot meet its building targets.
A Call for Tradies’ Voices
Tradies themselves say the same thing:Answer the phone. Do the work. Get paid fairly.
If the system improves, more young workers will re-enter the trades — and Australia will be able to build the homes it desperately needs.
