Tasmania’s construction sector is expected to be worth around $2.8 billion a year for the next two years, according to a new report.
The Tasmanian Building and Construction Industry Training Board’s (TBCITB) 2019 State of the Industry Report also finds the demand for workers to be relatively strong within the next two years as more major projects in the state are expected to begin.
Numbers of apprentices employed in the workforce have also increased during 2017-18 by 22 per cent to 1786.
Safety remains a key focus in the report, which found building and construction accounted for 8.8 per cent of Tasmania’s lost time injuries, with an average cost of $10,934 per incident in 2018.
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TBCITB is collaborating with the Department of Education and TasTAFE to ensure high school students have the chance to make informed decisions about future career paths within the industry.
Minister for Education and Training Jeremy Rockliffe said in a media statement that a steady stream of skilled workers is central to Tasmania’s economic growth and social wellbeing.
“Recent data shows that Tasmania experienced the highest growth rate in the nation for building work done at 27 per cent in trend terms compared to the same period a year earlier,” the statement said.
“This was significantly higher than the average annual growth across the nation at just 1.3 per cent.
“This Government is focused on developing the skills needed now and in the future to support our economy.”