Governments, industry bodies and educators are joining forces to back a new national game plan aimed at addressing critical worker shortages in the construction sector, which are slowing Australia’s progress in decarbonising infrastructure projects and reaching net zero emissions by 2050.
In its newly released Delivering Net Zero Infrastructure: Workforce Report, Infrastructure Australia has outlined the scale and skills required to build an “Infrastructure Net Zero Workforce” — the professional and trade workforce needed to drive down emissions from major projects.
The report also details four recommendations to support growth and upskilling in the sector.
Infrastructure and buildings currently account for almost one-third of Australia’s direct emissions and are indirectly responsible for more than half, making the sector central to the nation’s climate strategy.
Infrastructure Australia CEO Adam Copp said the ability to reduce emissions will depend on strengthening the existing workforce of 130,000 people across 36 occupations, spanning from construction managers and engineers to architects and skilled trades.
“While this includes a little over half of the workforce currently engaged in the delivery of the nation’s major public infrastructure pipeline, more can be done to engage the rest, so we have workers right across the project lifecycle with the skills to drive the decarbonisation of infrastructure projects,” Copp said.
“This report was developed to set out a plan that brings governments and industry bodies together to strengthen this workforce so it can tackle the huge task of decarbonising the nation’s infrastructure pipeline.”
The report, developed under the Infrastructure Net Zero initiative overseen by the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), makes a central recommendation for a new industry-wide training program.
This would ensure a nationally consistent approach to equipping workers with the knowledge and skills to decarbonise projects.
“Among many white-collar professions, which have the highest impact in reducing emissions, there is a significant opportunity to extend awareness and boost confidence on how to best decarbonise infrastructure projects,” Copp said.
Copp stated that establishing nationally consistent training programs would equip professionals across the sector with the knowledge and confidence needed to cut emissions on all projects.
He added that governments and industry bodies are already backing the recommendations, recognising the importance of ensuring workers have the necessary skills and assurance to deliver.
Jonathan Cartledge, Chair of Infrastructure Net Zero and Chief Executive Officer of Consult Australia, said the plan was vital for giving the industry long-term certainty to invest in workforce development.
“The race to net zero infrastructure is also a race for skills,” Cartledge said.
“For the first time, we have a clear picture of the workforce it will take, and this report sets out a pathway for industry and government to ensure we have the people to design and build that net-zero future.”
ASBEC Chief Executive Officer Alison Scotland similarly welcomed the findings, emphasising the importance of joint action from industry and government.
“Achieving Australia’s net zero ambition demands more than policy and investment; it requires a skilled workforce equipped to design and deliver net zero infrastructure at scale,” Scotland said.
“This report and its recommendations serve as a compelling call to action — urging us to accelerate collective efforts to decarbonise Australia’s infrastructure now and towards 2050.”
