Want a job, warm weather and cheaper housing? The Aussie state desperate for THOUSANDS of workers
Infrastructure Australia data has revealed the state is currently short by more than 41,000 construction workers despite 83,300 workers being needed to meet public infrastructure demand this month.
The figure is expected to balloon next year when Queensland starts construction for the Olympics, with the shortage reaching 54,700 by March 2026.
Some 10,000 labourers will be in short supply, along with 1,700 concreters, 1,800 structural steel erectors and 2,600 civil engineers.
The state will also be short 5,100 plant operators and 4,000 project managers.
Those workers are desperately needed to complete the state's more than $100billion infrastructure pipeline, which includes venues in Brisbane for the Olympics.
A 63,000-seat Brisbane Stadium in Victoria Park was earlier this year confirmed as the centrepiece of Brisbane's $7billion plan for the Olympics.
After the Olympic Games, the stadium will host home games for the Brisbane Lions and Cricket Australia matches.
The plan also included a new national aquatic centre, an athlete's village and an upgraded 20,000 seat arena at the Brisbane Showgrounds and a 3,000-seat show court arena at the Queensland Tennis Centre.
Infrastructure Australia's figures were in line with a report by Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ), which also forecast a shortfall of 50,000 construction workers in 2026-2027.
CSQ has called for more support for apprentices to stem drop-out rates, and warned the expected labour shortages could lead to costly delays.
Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister Jarrod Bleijie said the state would welcome all migrant workers.
'With a laser-like focus on productivity reforms and the biggest infrastructure capital budget in our history, the LNP is pulling all infrastructure levers available,' he told the Courier Mail.
Queensland Major Contractors Association chief executive Andrew Chapman said the state would need to increase its workforce by between 50 and 80 per cent to meet demand over the next five years.
'If we are able to improve productivity through different delivery approaches, like use of technology, better industrial relations practices on site including flexible RDO schedule in line with the project schedule, managing hot weather impacts better than 28 degrees and work stops … then that peak demand will come down to something that is more manageable,' Mr Chapman said.
Queensland is in the grip of a general worker shortage across the construction, hospitality and health sectors, and is expected to need a total 156,000 additional skilled workers by 2027-2028.
Housing might be high on the list of incentives for workers moving to Queensland to fill the shortage.
The median house price in the capital, Brisbane, is $1million - significantly lower than Sydney's $1.5million.
But Brisbane's median house price recently overtook Melbourne's ($950,000).
In March, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli came under fire for breaking a major election promise when he announced the construction of Brisbane Stadium.
Crisafulli had repeatedly pledged not to build any new stadiums for the Olympics while he was on the campaign trail in the lead-up to last year's state elections.
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