The ACT is projected to fall more than 1100 construction workers short of industry demand by 2035, putting housing and infrastructure targets at risk, Master Builders ACT says.

New state-level modelling in Master Builders Australia’s Future Workforce Blueprint estimates the ACT will need an additional 1770 construction workers by 2035, but is on track to fall 1110 workers short.

Master Builders ACT CEO Anna Neelagama said every construction trade in the territory remained in shortage.

“We need homes and infrastructure built. Our question is, without a strong future workforce pipeline, who will build them?” she said.

Master Builders is calling for greater access to fee-free training through industry-aligned registered training organisations and a campaign encouraging students to consider construction careers.

It also identified skilled migration as part of the response but said rebuilding the domestic training pipeline remained essential.

Ms Neelagama said attracting apprentices would not solve the problem while more than half failed to complete their training.

She warned the workforce gap could undermine the ACT’s ability to meet its National Housing Accord housing targets and deliver infrastructure for a growing population.

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