Master Builders recently released Future-Proofing Construction: A Workforce Blueprint, a set of proposals related to our industry’s future jobs and skills needed. It is estimated that by November 2026 South Australia needs an additional 31,149 people to meet demand, including 14,685 tradies (roughly half the overall labour requirement).
The report includes workforce projections to November 2026. The below table provides an estimated breakdown by jurisdiction and occupation group.
The report includes workforce projections to November 2026. The below table provides an estimated breakdown by jurisdiction and occupation group.
| Managers | Professionals | Technicians & Trades | Admin | Machinery | Labourers | Total* | |
| AUS | 64,557 | 31,850 | 229,053 | 46,571 | 31,558 | 78,029 | 481,618 |
| NSW | 22,455 | 10,232 | 69,272 | 14,765 | 7,574 | 26,574 | 150,872 |
| VIC | 17,117 | 9,134 | 63,161 | 11,256 | 7,453 | 18,338 | 126,459 |
| QLD | 12,180 | 5,933 | 45,390 | 9,685 | 8,128 | 16,439 | 97,755 |
| SA | 3,506 | 1,543 | 14,685 | 3,212 | 2,231 | 5,972 | 31,149 |
| WA | 5,823 | 3,601 | 26,451 | 4,716 | 5,104 | 8,337 | 54,033 |
| TAS | 1,461 | 551 | 5,110 | 961 | 545 | 1,349 | 9,979 |
| ACT | 1,390 | 605 | 2,918 | 1,334 | 284 | 451 | 6,982 |
| NT | 625 | 234 | 2,065 | 643 | 239 | 568 | 4,374 |
*Total includes community and sales occupation groups
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 |
