Media Release
Calls for $10,000 incentives to lure interstate workers to WA's
residential construction industry
The Property Council WA is calling for the introduction of $10,000 relocation incentives to lure skilled interstate workers into the state's hamstrung housing construction industry.
Senior government figures, including ministers, were presented with the proposal this week during a high-level industry roundtable focused on delivering new homes in established suburbs.
Under the proposal, interstate workers who move to WA and work exclusively in the residential construction industry would be eligible for the State Government payment.
Property Council WA Executive Director Nicola Brischetto said a critical shortage of skilled labour was one of the biggest barriers to building new homes on scale.
Comments attributable to Property Council WA Executive Director Nicola Brischetto:
"Offering $10,000 cash incentives for skilled construction workers to cross the Nullarbor is a drastic move. Unfortunately, however, we need drastic intervention if Western Australia is going to
build its way out of the housing crisis."
"Western Australia simply does not have enough workers in the residential construction market to build the homes we need.
"The state's housing sector does experience tough and unique challenges in attracting skilled labour. It is competing against a high-paying mining sector and an extensive public infrastructure
program for tools on the ground.
"These problems aren't going away anytime soon, Western Australia has the country's fastest growing population and lowest unemployment rate.
"Western Australia will need to build 26,000 new homes each year to complete our fair share of the National Housing Accord target.
"The residential construction sector completed 17,700 in the 2023-24 financial years. Bringing more skilled construction workers into the state is essential to solving our housing crisis."
