Australia’s tradie drought to reach almost one million workers by 2035: report

A new report warns that Australia faces a critical shortage of tradespersons, with the deficit potentially reaching nearly one million workers by 2035. The analysis projects severe undersupply across multiple skilled trades essential to construction and remedial work, driven by retiring workers, insufficient apprenticeship uptake, and competing demand from infrastructure projects and residential building. The shortage will affect capacity to deliver new construction, maintenance, and remedial work across all building sectors including apartment buildings and strata properties. Without intervention—such as increased apprenticeship places, immigration of skilled workers, or productivity improvements—the construction and remedial industries will struggle to meet demand.

Remedial building contractors and strata managers need to understand this constraint: labour availability will directly impact project timelines, costs, and the ability to recruit skilled tradespeople for waterproofing, concrete repair, façade work, and structural remediation. Planning for defect rectification and compliance upgrades should account for extended lead times and tighter labour markets in coming years.