Civil Construction Sector Call for Government Support for Infrastructure Apprentices

The Civil Contractors Federation (CCF), Master Builders Australia (MBA), and the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) have issued a united call for the Australian Government to formally recognise and fund civil construction apprentices as part of its broader efforts to address workforce shortages and boost housing supply.

A joint letter has been provided to the Prime Minister and key ministers, including the Minister for Housing Clare O’Neil, the Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles, and the Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King, urging the government to take immediate action to address this critical issue.

Despite playing a foundational role in the delivery of housing and infrastructure projects—ensuring roads, drainage, and essential services are in place—civil construction apprentices remain excluded from existing Commonwealth incentive programs. With Infrastructure Australia forecasting a workforce shortfall of 197,000 skilled workers over the next five years, urgent action is needed to ensure the sustainability of Australia’s infrastructure pipeline.

As lead spokesperson, Civil Contractors Federation CEO Nicholas Proud emphasised that civil construction is the essential first step in any new development and must be prioritised in workforce planning.

”To put it simply, the Commonwealth Government can start to meet its housing and renewable energy targets in the outer years to 2029 should urgent steps be taken to address this shortage are taken that develop the civil workforce.

“Governments are increasing relying upon skilled contractors to deliver increasingly complex projects without investing in the workforce.

“No wonder we are seeing billion dollar funded blowouts on major infrastructure projects as Government expects more and more from a shrinking workforce.

“Without skilled civil construction workers, we simply cannot deliver the roads, utilities, and land preparation needed particularly for housing which the developers and the residential builders are trying to build.

“Industry is united in calling on the government to extend its construction incentive programs to include civil construction apprentices, ensuring we have the skilled workforce to meet Australia’s infrastructure and housing needs.”

Key Facts

As reported in the Federal Government Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship system in January 2025 (p.40):
“the building and construction sector continues to face long-term labour shortages, threatening Australia’s ability to build essential infrastructure, particularly housing.
Nationally, we are building over 60,000 fewer homes per annum than we were in 2021 (228k starts in Sept 2021 down to 165k starts at Sept 2024), and investment in roads, highways and subdivisions has dropped from $38.82 billion in the year to December 2022 to $27.27 billion over the past 12 months reported to September 2024. Australia’s population has grown by 552,000 in 2024, yet only 159,022 homes have commenced construction for the latest year to Sept 2024.
- With each dwelling housing 2.5 persons, on average we required 220,800 homes in the year to June 2024 leaving the country around 62,000 homes short in this one period alone pushing up price and competition for homes to buy or rent.
- In this period alone New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia each experienced a shortfall of over 17,000 dwellings commenced to house their growing population in each respective state.
Under the current regulatory framework, civil apprentices do not receive the same support as comparable trades, and businesses lack the necessary incentives to hire new staff, leading to a concerning decline in commencements.
the industry faces an ongoing skills shortage of of 197,000 public infrastructure workers that threatens project timelines, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
Just some of the other occupations that play various roles in our communities that are prioritised and funded that see over 50% of their workforces trained and competent to at least the cert 3 level include:
- Lift Mechanics (73.7%), Hairdressers (72%), Locksmiths (68.3%), Vehicle Painters (67.7%), Farriers (61%), Glaziers (56.1), Jockeys (50.4).
Government must consider what Housing and Community Enabling Infrastructure that has to come before anything can be built and operated such as a house, hospital or a school does and the under skilling of the civil workforce across the board;
- Without prioritisation, around 20 non-engineering Civil Occupations trades that have certificate 3 apprenticeships available all languish between 20-40% of the Earthmoving Plant Operators (40.8%), Excavator Operators (35.8%) and Road Roller Operators (24.3%) having this qualification or above.
Government needs to fund the skills to deliver increasingly complex projects, start to resurrect productivity uplift and place downward pressure on billion-dollar blowouts on infrastructure projects with taxpayers footing the bill.