Queensland’s plan to build one million new homes over 20 years is running into a major labour shortage, with the construction industry warning the state needs around 20,000 additional skilled workers to meet the target.
The Queensland Government is standing by its goal of delivering one million homes by 2044, including 53,500 social and community dwellings.
Housing construction has accelerated, with the number of homes under construction up around 35% since the government took office.
However, only 34,627 homes were completed during the most recent financial year.
To meet the long-term target, Queensland would need to complete roughly 50,000 homes every year.
Workforce becomes biggest constraint
Master Builders Queensland has identified skilled labour as the single biggest obstacle.
The industry needs more carpenters, electricians, plumbers and other tradespeople at the same time as major infrastructure, renewable energy and data centre projects are competing for many of the same workers.
That competition is adding to construction costs and threatening project timelines.
The challenge mirrors the broader national housing problem.
Australia is already expected to fall well short of its target to build 1.2 million new homes over five years, while rents remain high and housing affordability continues to deteriorate.
Queensland’s target also raises questions about infrastructure.
New suburbs require transport, schools, hospitals, electricity, water and other services alongside housing construction.
The figures suggest Australia’s housing shortage is no longer simply a planning or financing problem.
Even where governments approve more homes, there may not be enough workers available to build them fast enough.
