There’s a Skills Shortage in Australian Construction - Here’s How to Solve It
The cost and scale of construction projects today is seemingly ever-increasing as governments and companies respond to the needs of society.
With more projects at greater scale comes the more critical need for highly skilled resources.
Construction projects today face a number of challenges, not least a significant shortage of highly skilled resources.
Achieving project success in a challenging, pressured, and fast-paced environment requires balancing technical expertise, commercial acumen, and strategic agility.
Having rapid access to professionals with these qualities from a high-performing project services consultancy is proving a vital tool in the team dynamic of a project. But what do you look for when presented with skilled resource options?
At Accura Consulting, our Project Services solution understands what is important to project success and only provides highly skilled resources with key attributes, including:
Hands-on industry experience - There is no substitute for expertise gained through hands-on experience. Our on-demand skilled resources have proven expertise, know how to solve problems, and have industry knowledge.
Agility and responsiveness - When resources are sent on secondment, they need to hit the ground running and be ready to counter unexpected challenges. With highly dynamic projects, resources must be agile and able to align with evolving project goal to minimise disruption.
Flexible and Cost Effective - If a project needs on-demand skilled resources, it likely needs them urgently so the provider must be able to deploy rapidly. By offering rapid scalable solutions, projects can better control costs while still benefitting from securing a highly qualified skillet be it in contract management, cost control, or planning and programming.
Seamless Integration - Skills are important but so is the ability to be a true partner and help achieve a successful project outcome.
Highly skilled resources are a critical component of project delivery but with an ongoing and deepening professional skills shortage, sourcing is a challenge.
Partnering with a trusted consultant able to seamlessly integrate highly skilled resources into project teams rapidly offers a solution to resourcing problems. By providing hands-on expertise, agile responses, and flexible resourcing, these services empower businesses to navigate challenges, optimise performance, and achieve their commercial objectives.
Skills Shortage of Quantity Surveyors in Australia
The Australian construction industry is currently experiencing a significant shortage of Quantity Surveyors (QS), with substantial implications for project costs, timelines, and dispute resolution. This shortage is exacerbated by rapid industry growth and increasing project complexity. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, 36% of assessed occupations were in national shortage in 2023, with Quantity Surveyors among the most affected professions.
The shortage of qualified QS professionals leads to inadequate cost estimation, contract management, and financial oversight, increasing the likelihood of disputes. Forensic QS experts are essential in providing accurate cost assessments and contract evaluations for dispute resolution, yet their scarcity can result in prolonged disputes and higher litigation rates.
Figure 4: Correlation between QS Shortage and Construction Disputes in Australia (2019-2023)
Utilising services like Accura Consulting’s Project Services is strategic necessity for construction companies striving for excellence. If you’re struggling to find skilled professionals, get in touch.
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