Future Proofing South Australia’s Construction Industry

In South Australia Master Builders estimates the following additional labour needs:

4,370 Managers, of which 1,885 are construction managers
1,820 Professionals, including 340 civil engineers
15,480 technicians and trade workers, including over 2,000 carpenters, plumbers and electricians
3,041 administration workers, including 781 general clerks, 686 contract administrators, and 529 office managers.
2,362 machinery operators, of which 760 are earthmoving plant operators
5,410 labourers, including over 1,000 concreters and general labourers.

Workers needed in SA’s construction industry to November 2026, occupation major groups and selected unit groups
ALL OCCUPATIONS		31442

1	MANAGERS	4370
1331	Construction Managers	1885

2	PROFESSIONALS	1820
2332	Civil Engineering Professionals	340
2513	Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals	133

3	TECHNICIANS AND TRADES WORKERS	15480
3121	Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians	938
3223	Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers	575
3311	Bricklayers and Stonemasons	721
3312	Carpenters and Joiners	2053
3321	Floor Finishers	404
3322	Painting Trades Workers	1198
3331	Glaziers	131
3332	Plasterers	334
3333	Roof Tilers	108
3334	Wall and Floor Tilers	133
3341	Plumbers	2035
3411	Electricians	3422
3421	Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics	350
3622	Gardeners	1233

5	CLERICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE WORKERS	3041
5111	Contract, Program and Project Administrators	686
5121	Office Managers	529
5311	General Clerks	781
5511	Accounting Clerks	389

7	MACHINERY OPERATORS AND DRIVERS	2362
7212	Earthmoving Plant Operators	960
7331	Truck Drivers	478

8	LABOURERS	5410
8211	Building and Plumbing Labourers	1580
8212	Concreters	1205
8213	Fencers	256
8214	Insulation and Home Improvement Installers	944
8217	Structural Steel Construction Workers	372
8414	Garden and Nursery Labourers	188
8993	Handypersons	641

Workers needed in SA’s construction industry to November 2026, occupation major groups and selected unit groups