Number of employees in the construction industry Australia 2012-2025
During the first half of 2020, Australia’s construction industry was disrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic. The industry had seen a steady rise in employment since 2012, with the number of employees at around 1.18 million in 2022. In 2025, employment in the construction industry in Australia was forecasted to reach around 1.26 million people.
How important is the construction industry?
The construction industry plays a major economic role in Australia, producing around nine percent of the country’s GDP. The value of activity in this industry alone amounted to 202 billion Australian dollars in 2020. The value of private sector construction was significantly higher than the value of public sector construction. Combined, these sectors cover engineering construction work, non-residential building, and residential building. Engineering construction work, which encompasses infrastructure, was the most predominant of the three.
Job outlook
The leading occupations in the construction industry were carpenters and joiners. Roles within this industry vary greatly, with many entry level jobs not requiring a tertiary education degree. In terms of trade work, apprenticeships and traineeships were the main pathways to enter the market. While the job outlook has consistently been robust in this industry, in 2020, the labor productivity index showed a slight decline compared to the previous year. On top of this, challenges faced in 2020 could slow down growth in this industry further. In the midst of some of the country’s biggest ongoing infrastructure projects, many Australian construction companies had to restrict their output in response to measures against the coronavirus pandemic. The full economic impact of this will be seen in the coming years.
How important is the construction industry?
The construction industry plays a major economic role in Australia, producing around nine percent of the country’s GDP. The value of activity in this industry alone amounted to 202 billion Australian dollars in 2020. The value of private sector construction was significantly higher than the value of public sector construction. Combined, these sectors cover engineering construction work, non-residential building, and residential building. Engineering construction work, which encompasses infrastructure, was the most predominant of the three.
Job outlook
The leading occupations in the construction industry were carpenters and joiners. Roles within this industry vary greatly, with many entry level jobs not requiring a tertiary education degree. In terms of trade work, apprenticeships and traineeships were the main pathways to enter the market. While the job outlook has consistently been robust in this industry, in 2020, the labor productivity index showed a slight decline compared to the previous year. On top of this, challenges faced in 2020 could slow down growth in this industry further. In the midst of some of the country’s biggest ongoing infrastructure projects, many Australian construction companies had to restrict their output in response to measures against the coronavirus pandemic. The full economic impact of this will be seen in the coming years.
