Western Australia has allocated $13.1 million in this year's State Budget to attract overseas and interstate tradies to the state, as part of efforts to address a chronic skills shortage in the construction industry.
Funding Breakdown
Skills and Training Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson announced $11 million to extend the Construction Visa Subsidy and the Build a Life in WA programs. An additional $2.1 million will support the Construction Migration Office, which assists employers in hiring overseas skilled workers and helps tradies relocate to WA.
"We know how important access to a pipeline of skilled workers is to our local construction and building industry," Ms Sanderson said. "That's why we are delivering an additional 1110 places in this year's State Budget through the Construction Visa Subsidy and Build a Life Program. This means local businesses can get skilled workers fast."
Relocation Incentives
The Build a Life in WA program offers $10,000 to skilled workers from interstate and New Zealand to relocate. The Construction Visa Subsidy Program provides up to $10,000 for eligible employers and independent skilled migrants to cover costs associated with migrating to WA for work in the building and construction sector.
Since 2023, more than 2700 skilled workers have arrived in WA through these initiatives, with $54 million allocated to the schemes. The highest intake has been in carpentry, followed by electricians, plumbers, roof plumbers, wall and floor tilers, air-conditioning and refrigeration technicians, glaziers, and bricklayers.
Industry Response
This week, both the Housing Industry Association (HIA) and Master Builders WA urged the Cook Government to include measures in the budget to address the skills shortage. HIA executive director Michael McGowan said, "Every economic opportunity that sits in front of Western Australia over the next 10 years needs skilled trades. More investment to support apprentices and skilled migrants arriving in Western Australia builds homes for the now and supports the long term economic future."
Master Builders CEO Matt Moran emphasised the urgency: "Supply is simply not keeping up with the demand for homes in WA. We have to build our way out of it - and fast. We must focus on supply solutions, not demand incentives. To achieve this we need more tradies and more people starting apprenticeships. Apprenticeships are important but they won't solve the immediate worker shortage. All options need to be on the table, including targeted skilled migration. Let's get real, we don't need more pilates instructors, we need more brickies and carpenters."
Additional Training Investment
Ms Sanderson noted that the government has allocated an extra $189 million to TAFE and training in this year's Budget, further supporting the development of a skilled workforce.
