00:02A new report has warned a shortage of construction workers in Queensland will cause building
00:08delays and cost blowouts.
00:11Queensland has a lot of work in the pipeline, everything from housing to roads, hospitals
00:18to energy.
00:19The state government is spending a record $116 billion over the next four years and
00:26it's all being supercharged by the Olympics.
00:28The problem is, who is going to build it?
00:32There's no doubt that the availability of skilled workers has been the biggest problem
00:37that the Queensland industry is facing.
00:39Construction Skills Queensland has done the maths.
00:42We're already about 15,000 workers short, but that's projected to rise to 35,000 in
00:492028.
00:51The Olympics deadline, a big pressure point.
00:54Ultimately, you will see delays to projects and projects being shifted out across that
00:59timeline.
01:00The challenge we've got is the projects for the games, they can't be shifted.
01:04And that leaves very little wriggle room for the government.
01:07We've been clear that projects are to be delivered on time and on budget.
01:10We've got the $7.1 billion funding envelope for the games.
01:17Not just the Olympics.
01:18The CSQ report also highlights frequent weather disasters, with repairs and rebuilding piling
01:26further pressure on the construction industry.
01:30So where do we find the extra workers needed?
01:34Experts say recruiting more apprentices and women would help.
01:38Everywhere I go with young people, I encourage them to take up a trade.
01:42It's a great career, it's really well paying.
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