Master Builders warns of ACT construction worker shortfall by 2035

Master Builders Australia has warned that the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) faces a potential shortfall of more than 1,100 construction workers by 2035. According to the organization’s Future Workforce Blueprint, the region may require 1,770 additional workers to meet demand, but could see a deficit of 1,110 without significant intervention.

Master Builders CEO Anna Neelagama stated that every construction trade in the ACT is currently experiencing shortages, which threatens the delivery of infrastructure and National Housing Accord targets. She characterized the workforce gap as a structural issue rather than a cyclical one, calling for urgent government investment.

The ACT Government has rejected these projections, questioning the methodology of the Blueprint. A government spokesperson noted that Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed the ACT construction workforce grew by approximately 800 workers between February 2024 and February 2026. The government suggested this growth rate exceeds the industry's forecasts and argued that the MBA's model appears to be an apportioned national model rather than one based specifically on local ACT labor market conditions and training pathways.