Infrastructure Report

BPEQ E-news, Issue 82 October 2021, page 7 Infrastructure Australia published its first Infrastructure Market Capacity report in October, forecasting a surge in demand for skills, labour and materials due to the rapid increase in public infrastructure investment.

The Infrastructure Market Capacity Report responds to a request from the Council of Australian Governments in March 2020 for Infrastructure Australia to regularly report on the capacity of the market to deliver on the record investment pipeline.

The report underscores the need for Australia’s governments and industry to work collaboratively, to advance sector-wide reform and reduce the risk of cost escalation and delays in the delivery of major infrastructure projects.

Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive Romilly Madew said the Infrastructure Market Capacity report is an Australianfirst and a new data capability for Infrastructure Australia. It provides a level of visibility of the major project pipeline and resulting demand for skills, labour and materials that governments have not had until now. Major public infrastructure activity will double over the next three years, peaking at $52 billion in 2023. This record investment creates new opportunities for local business and employment, however also risks constraints in the capacity of the market to meet this growth in investment. In mid-2023 the employment in the infrastructure sector will need to grow from 183,000 people today to more than 288,000 potential shortfall in jobs being filled is forecast to exceed 105,000, with one in three jobs advertised going unfilled. This presents an opportunity for further employment, but there is also a risk these roles will be unfilled. The inaugural report is focused on major public infrastructure pipeline (transport, utilities and building infrastructure), for investments over $50 million for Tasmania, Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory and over $100 million for all other states. This inaugural report represents the first phase of work in Infrastructure Australia’s ongoing Market Capacity Program that will monitor and report on the capacity of the market.

A second phase of the Market Capacity Program is now under development for publication in the first half of 2022.

Key findings

A forecast average annual growth rate of 33% as industry reports reduced confidence in their capacity to deliver ontime and on-budget. Industry indicates a high confidence of delivering 10-15% annual growth, but a low confidence in delivering growth over 18%. Demand for plant, labour, equipment, and materials will be two-thirds higher than the previous five years. Over the next three years it is expected there will be: • 120% average growth in demand for materials • 125% growth in demand for equipment • 140% growth in demand for plant The peak of demand for skills is 48% higher than supply. Meeting this demand would require annual growth of 25% over the next two years, which is more than eight times higher than the projected annual growth rate of 3.3%. Some 34 of the 50 public infrastructure occupations identified are potentially in shortage.

From page 24 • Maintain asset inventories • Analyse and interpret civil infrastructure asset datasets • Make decisions using civil infrastructure asset data

• Skills Sets • Road Pavements Skill Set • Roadside Infrastructure Skill

Set • Stormwater Drainage Skill

Set • Civil Structures Skill Set • Civil Foundations Skill Set • Water and Sewerage Mains

Skill Set • Underground Services Skill

Set • Open Spaces Skill Set • Analyse Data for Asset

Management Decision

Making Skill Set

While these training products have now been released, we must work together as a sector to ensure the learning and assessment strategies and supporting resources developed by the RTOs lead to tangible outcomes. It is essential that content matter experts work collaboratively with the training providers to deliver outcomes that upskill our key staff who collect and manage our asset data.

If you would like to become actively involved in the upskilling of paraprofessionals in our sector, or would like to understand more about the training package, please contact Craig Moss, Director, Professional Services.