Access Trades
Workforce Development Plan
$170.4bn
5-year construction sector project pipeline (2024-29)
2,320
Workforce size
2023
591
Total businesses
2023
Access Trades Sector Vision
To build a skilled, diverse, and resilient workforce within the Access Trades sector.
Through enhanced training, strategic data use, and targeted initiatives, we will empower industry stakeholders, attract and retain talent, and champion the regulatory reforms needed to future-proof the sector.
Our focus on innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability will ensure the workforce is adaptable and equipped for the challenges of tomorrow.
Access Trades are essential to keeping construction and infrastructure projects moving safely, efficiently, and on time.
Whether it’s working at height, lifting heavy materials, or ensuring safe passage across worksites, roles like scaffolders, riggers, and crane operators are vital to the broader industry.
We worked closely with industry representatives, associations, business owners, and a small number of other stakeholders to shape the industry insights. Their input brought key themes to light: workforce attraction and retention; skills development and training; diversity, inclusion, and representation; and the need for better data, stronger partnerships, and clearer regulatory support.
Even as economic conditions shift, the sector’s core focus remains: building a stronger, more resilient Access Trades workforce. Growing the sector means lifting its profile to attract fresh talent, while providing targeted support to upskill and retain those already contributing.
Based on what we’ve heard from across the sector, here are the four key areas guiding workforce action:
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