100,000+ worker shortfall amid $250B pipeline
Construction and Infrastructure faces many issues in a tight labour market:
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35% workforce gap
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77% early-career churn
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ageing workerforce
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weekly suicides
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high injuries
People leadership can help address these issues. In partnership with ConCOVE Tūhura, our deep dive into people leadership in the Construction and Infrastructure sector builds on recurring themes from our 13 Workforce Development Plans, where people leadership consistently emerged as essential to overcoming industry challenges and driving meaningful change.
Leadership is the solution
Waihanga Ara Rau & ConCOVE reports show people leadership helps to tackle workforce challenges such as:
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Retention (only 23% stay 5+ years).
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Attraction: Reposition “hard, male” image
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Wellbeing: MATES/WorkSafe saves lives/productivity
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Diversity: Māori/Pacific values (whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, tautua) + inclusion.
Technical promotions fail. People leaders need empathy, psychological safety and formal training.
Four priority actions:
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People/Culture: Wellbeing tools, cultural leadership
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Pathways: Early apprenticeships, mentoring underrepresented talent
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SME tools: Low-barrier guides, training directory
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Evidence: Case studies, AI/climate research