Master Builders Australia (MBA) has released its supplementary Budget submission Finding Australia’s missing tradies: Harnessing our skilled migrant workforce to help migrants in the industry navigate complex and unnecessary barriers to work in building and construction.

With a history of a migrant-strong workforce the building and construction industry, workers who were born overseas today make up about 24% of the total workforce. However, those who arrived within the last five years only represent 2.8%.

“The domestic workforce cannot keep up with demand in the short term. Skilled migration represents a vital workforce puzzle,” MBA chief executive officer Denita Wawn says.

“When seeking to attract more skilled trades into Australia, it is important to look to migrants already in the country. This is an underutilised cohort of potential workers who could fill workforce gaps in the short term.”

The recommendations of the Budget include:

– Provide access to English language education to help migrants upskill, noting that this will also assist them if seeking permanent residency.

– Provide simpler and more accessible coaching for migrants on how to find a job in the industry – the higher education space is an example of success in providing support to international students.

– Subsidise the cost of upskilling or training to fill any skills or qualification gap that might exist between the migrant’s home qualification and the Australian requirements.

– Allow migrant workers to access financial subsidies to complete trade apprenticeships.

– Work with state and territory governments to streamline occupational licensing requirements and ensure internationally comparable qualifications or requirements are quickly recognised without the need for long skills recognition processes.

– Ensure pathways to permanent residency are clear and enticing for skilled migrants already in the country who have building and construction qualifications and experience. Fast-track these people to permanent residency if they are working in building and construction.

– Expand eligibility for the graduate visa and graduate visa extension to all Australian Qualifications Framework Certificate III and above qualifications.