CANBERRA – Australia’s construction industry is going global by working with its Canadian counterparts to share approaches on predicting construction labour needs and addressing skilled trade shortages. The move will benefit the Australian and Canadian economies and has been welcomed by the Governments of both countries.
“Innovative approaches to predicting labour requirements and developing targeted labour market solutions will be shared with a view to improving both industries,” said Peter Verwer, Chair of Australia’s Construction Forecasting Council (CFC) - www.cfc.acif.com.au.
“The ability to predict when and where 32 trades and occupations will be available over the next nine years provides a world class model” said Neil Marshall, Chairman of the Australian Construction Industry Forum, which oversees the CFC. “We are also impressed by the Canadian Construction Sector Council’s consultation process with industry leaders from each sector and region of the country, and with the research on labour market issues, such as the future of mobile workers”.
ACIF oversees and manages the Australian Construction Forecasting Council. Its mission is to create a competitive construction and property industry that is a leader in building a prosperous Australian nation. Membership is open to any Australian building or construction industry association with a national structure and focus.
The Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP has welcomed the move, saying, “This new agreement will help the Australian construction industry prepare for future labour needs. A lot of effort went into producing construction forecasts in both Australia and Canada and they will prove a valuable tool for the industry in our two countries. It is important that these construction forecasts are used in conjunction with forecasts on labour requirements that will allow industry and the training sector to respond to these needs in a timely manner.”
OTTAWA – In launching the aqreement with the His Excellency William Fisher, the Australian High Commissioner in Canada, The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, said “In both countries, the construction sector is an important contributor to the economy and this agreement provides an excellent opportunity to tackle human resources challenges and get skilled tradespeople into both the Canadian and Australian workforce, when and where they are needed.”
Australian High Commissioner Fisher agreed, “This historic industry-led agreement is an example of the key role that innovative approaches can play in international labour market issues. By sharing information, expertise and research, both economies will benefit.”
“The CSC’s Construction Looking Forward reports are certainly a hit here and we are proud that our forecasting work is gaining international recognition,” said George Gritziotis, Executive Director of the Construction Sector Council. The CSC is now in the third year of producing a construction labour requirements forecast, widely used by industry and government decision makers in Canada.
The aim of a recent agreement signed by the CSC and the Australian Construction Industry Forum (ACIF) is to “support and enhance each organization’s ability to forecast construction investment activity, employment demand and supply in the residential and non-residential sectors.”
The CSC is a partnership between business, labour and government with financial support from both industry and government. Established in 2001 to address the workforce needs of the construction industry, the CSC brings together stakeholders to provide data that industry can use to make critical decisions.
Funding for the CSC is being provided by the Government of Canada’s Sector Council Program.
Synopsis
The Construction Sector Council’s Construction Looking Forward forecast reports, which are valued as a planning tool by decision makers in the Canadian construction industry, have gained international recognition. The CSC has recently signed an agreement with its Australian counterparts to share information on labour forecasting and recruitment practices. The agreement with the Australian Construction Industry Forum will see each country share best practices to refine forecasting abilities and improve solutions to human resource challenges in the construction industry.
For further comment:
Peter Verwer
Chief Executive
Property Council of Australia
0407 463 842
02 9033 1920