A new report released by the Australian Constructors Association (ACA) today reveals the key maintaining living standards is lifting the productivity performance of the construction industry.
ACA CEO Jon Davies said improving the efficiency of the construction industry is a matter of national importance.
“If the industry doesn’t change its course, it will simply be unable to deliver the current pipeline of new energy, housing, defence, transport and social infrastructure in a timely manner,” said Mr Davies.
“The construction industry has no choice but to become more efficient.
“The share of Australians aged 65 and over has doubled since 1970 and this is particularly problematic for an industry that has historically relied on younger, mainly male, workers.
“Construction has been holding back the tide of the ageing workforce, but this levy will not hold forever.
ACA’s report, Nailing construction productivity, reveals there is no shortage of solutions available to drive construction productivity but the sector’s ‘operating system’ requires a complete overhaul to realise the benefits.
“ACA is calling on the federal government to bring together state and territory governments, industry and unions, to urgently develop a comprehensive National Construction Strategy,” said Mr Davies.
“With National Cabinet oversight, implementation of the National Construction Strategy will provide a focus on improving this critical industry that has been missing for too long.
“The path to a more healthy and productive construction industry needs to be a collaborative one.
“We urge the government, industry and unions to come together and make improving construction productivity a nation-building priority.
“There is no other industry that compares to the level of combined value and job creation that the construction industry produces yet its productivity performance is among the worst.
“Just raising construction productivity to the national average would restore the nation’s faltering productivity growth to levels not seen since the 1990s.”
Quotes attributable to ACA President Annabel Crookes:
“ACA’s report, Nailing construction productivity, is a call to action.
“By bridging the gap between government, industry and unions, we will pave the way for a more efficient and thriving construction sector.
“With a comprehensive National Construction Strategy, we will drive transformative change that will create a ripple effect that positively impacts the lives of all Australians.
