Australian construction keeps punching above its weight, with total construction employment hitting 1,189,300 people by June 2023, a record high, while the industry generated $268.4 billion in GDP contribution in 2022 to 23. Yet profit margin averaged 4.8% in 2022 to 23 as input costs rose, setting up a sharp contrast between activity and returns. Here is what the latest figures reveal across building, infrastructure, exports, safety, and productivity.
Key Takeaways
- In the financial year 2022-23, the Australian construction industry contributed $268.4 billion to the national GDP, accounting for 9.1% of total GDP
- Construction industry output grew by 4.2% in 2023 compared to 2022, driven by residential and non-residential building activities
- The value of engineering construction work done in Australia reached $127.5 billion in 2022-23, up 8.7% from the prior year
- In June 2023, total construction employment reached 1,189,300 persons, a record high with 5.3% growth over the year
- The construction industry employed 9.1% of Australia's total workforce in 2023, totaling over 1.2 million workers
- Full-time employment in construction stood at 1,015,400 in 2023, with part-time at 173,900
- In 2023, there were 2,456 residential building approvals in New South Wales, down 12% from 2022
- Total value of engineering construction projects underway exceeded $500 billion in 2023
- Melbourne's Big Build program included 35 major projects valued at $105 billion as of 2023
- In 2022-23, there were 7.9 serious claims per 1,000 workers in construction, rate of 79.2 per 100,000
- Construction fatality rate was 4.9 per 100,000 workers in 2022, second highest industry
- Falls from height caused 28% of construction fatalities between 2019-2022, totaling 42 deaths
- In 2023, 42% of construction firms adopted green building certifications like Green Star
- Embodied carbon in new buildings reduced by 18% on average for certified projects in 2023
- Solar PV installations on construction sites reached 1.2 GW cumulative by 2023
In 2022 to 2023, Australia’s construction sector powered GDP growth and record jobs, with stronger output and investment.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economic Impact20 stats
01
In the financial year 2022-23, the Australian construction industry contributed $268.4 billion to the national GDP, accounting for 9.1% of total GDP
02
Construction industry output grew by 4.2% in 2023 compared to 2022, driven by residential and non-residential building activities
03
The value of engineering construction work done in Australia reached $127.5 billion in 2022-23, up 8.7% from the prior year
04
Residential building construction accounted for 38% of total construction activity value in 2023, totaling approximately $102 billion
05
Non-residential building work rose by 12.3% year-on-year in Q4 2023 to $18.9 billion
06
The construction sector's gross value added increased to $191.2 billion in 2022-23, reflecting strong infrastructure investment
07
Total construction investment as a percentage of GDP stood at 8.5% in 2023, highest since 2018
08
Heavy and civil engineering construction contributed $85.6 billion or 32% to industry turnover in 2022-23
09
The industry's total turnover exceeded $360 billion in 2023, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.1% over the past five years
10
Construction exports from Australia totaled $4.2 billion in 2022, primarily services to Pacific nations
11
Imports of construction materials reached $25.7 billion in 2023, with steel imports up 15%
12
The sector's profit margin averaged 4.8% in 2022-23, down from 5.2% due to rising input costs
13
Government construction expenditure was $62.4 billion in 2022-23, representing 23% of total industry spend
14
Private sector non-residential construction investment hit $45.3 billion in 2023
15
The multiplier effect of construction spending generated $1.60in economic activity per $1 invested in 2023
16
Construction deflation adjusted output grew 2.1% in 2023
17
Industry wages bill totaled $78.9 billion in 2022-23, up 7.4% nominally
18
Total factor productivity in construction improved by 1.2% annually from 2018-2023
19
Construction's share of business insolvencies was 22% in 2023, highest among sectors
20
The sector added $15.7 billion in taxes to federal revenue in 2022-23
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
Australia's construction sector is the nation's stubborn, hard-hatted backbone, simultaneously shrugging off supply chain headwinds to prop up nearly a tenth of the economy while quietly grumbling about its thinning profit margins and alarmingly high rate of business failures.
02 · Category
Employment Statistics18 stats
01
In June 2023, total construction employment reached 1,189,300 persons, a record high with 5.3% growth over the year
02
The construction industry employed 9.1% of Australia's total workforce in 2023, totaling over 1.2 million workers
03
Full-time employment in construction stood at 1,015,400 in 2023, with part-time at 173,900
04
Average weekly hours worked by construction workers were 39.8 hours in 2023, highest among industries
05
Youth employment (15-24 years) in construction was 12.5% of the sector's workforce in 2023, numbering 149,000
06
Female participation rate in construction reached 13.2% in 2023, up from 11.8% in 2020, totaling 157,000 women
07
Apprentices and trainees in construction numbered 130,200 in 2022, comprising 52% of all apprenticeships nationally
08
Construction unemployment rate was 3.7% in 2023, below the national average of 4.1%
09
Underemployment in construction affected 6.8% of workers in 2023, primarily casual laborers
10
Job vacancies in construction peaked at 89,700 in May 2023, 25% above pre-COVID levels
11
Skilled migration filled 18,500 construction roles in 2022-23, mainly carpenters and electricians
12
Average weekly earnings for construction managers were $2,856in 2023, 28% above national average
13
Labour turnover rate in construction was 14.2% in 2023, driven by skill shortages
14
Indigenous employment in construction reached 4.1% or 49,000 workers in 2023
15
Self-employment accounted for 28% of construction workforce, or 334,000 persons in 2023
16
Regional construction employment grew 7.2% in 2023 vs 4.1% in metro areas
17
Over 65s employment in construction doubled to 42,000 since 2016
18
Construction employed 1.3% of workers with disabilities, totaling 15,600 in 2023
Interpretation
Employment Statistics Interpretation
Australia's construction sector is not just building record numbers of homes and infrastructure; it's also painstakingly constructing its future workforce, brick by hard-won brick, as it juggles a hiring boom, a desperate scramble for skilled hands, and a slow but promising shift toward becoming a more diverse and inclusive industry.
03 · Category
Project Data19 stats
01
In 2023, there were 2,456 residential building approvals in New South Wales, down 12% from 2022
02
Total value of engineering construction projects underway exceeded $500 billion in 2023
03
Melbourne's Big Build program included 35 major projects valued at $105 billion as of 2023
04
Sydney Metro West project, valued at $25 billion, was 25% complete in 2023
05
Queensland's Cross River Rail project reached 40% completion in 2023, costing $6.4 billion
06
Western Australia's METRONET rail expansion comprised 14 projects totaling $10.4 billion in 2023
07
Nationwide, 145,200 new dwellings were approved in 2022-23, a 3.8% decline
08
Non-residential building approvals totaled $32.4 billion in value for 2023, up 10%
09
Infrastructure projects over $50 million numbered 1,200 in 2023, per Austroads data
10
Renewable energy construction projects added 4.2 GW capacity in 2023, valued at $8.5 billion
11
Hospital construction projects valued $12.3 billion were under construction in 2023
12
School building projects nationwide totaled $4.1 billion in federal funding for 2023
13
Road and bridge projects consumed 45% of state infrastructure budgets in 2023, $28 billion
14
Water infrastructure pipeline included 78 projects worth $22.6 billion in 2023
15
Defence construction spending reached $15.2 billion in 2022-23, including naval bases
16
Mining sector construction capex was $42.7 billion in 2023, focused on LNG expansions
17
Affordable housing projects approved numbered 12,500 units in 2023, valued at $3.8 billion
18
Data centre construction boomed with 15 projects totaling $5.2 billion in 2023
19
Heritage restoration projects in construction numbered 340, valued at $1.2 billion in 2023
Interpretation
Project Data Interpretation
Australia's construction industry in 2023 was a tale of two sites: while the residential sector politely coughed into its hard hat, the nation's engineers were busy orchestrating a half-trillion-dollar symphony of infrastructure, renewable energy, and data centres, proving we’re far more committed to building the future than we are to building a future buyer a home.
More related reading
04 · Category
Safety and Health20 stats
01
In 2022-23, there were 7.9 serious claims per 1,000 workers in construction, rate of 79.2 per 100,000
02
Construction fatality rate was 4.9 per 100,000 workers in 2022, second highest industry
03
Falls from height caused 28% of construction fatalities between 2019-2022, totaling 42 deaths
04
Musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 42% of serious claims in construction in 2022-23
05
1 in 4 construction workers experienced a work-related injury in the past year as of 2023 survey
06
Lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) in construction averaged 2.1 per million hours in 2023
07
Being struck by moving objects caused 19% of serious injuries, 1,200 cases in 2022-23
08
Mental health claims in construction rose 25% to 1,800 in 2022-23
09
Heat-related incidents increased 15% in construction during 2022-23 summer
10
Compliance with safety regulations improved to 87% in audited sites in 2023
11
Asbestos exposure claims numbered 450 in construction workers in 2022
12
Fatigue-related incidents accounted for 12% of vehicle accidents on sites in 2023
13
Safety training completion rate reached 92% among large contractors in 2023
14
Electrical incidents caused 8% of serious injuries, 650 cases annually average 2020-2023
15
Trench collapse fatalities averaged 3 per year from 2018-2023
16
Hearing loss claims totaled 2,100 in construction over past decade to 2023
17
Safety investment per worker averaged $1,250in 2023, up 10% from 2022
18
Return to work rate within 6 months was 78% for construction injuries in 2022-23
19
Silica dust exposure led to 1,200 compensation claims in 2022-23
20
Construction sites reported 15,400 notifiable incidents to regulators in 2023
Interpretation
Safety and Health Interpretation
While Australian construction sites are hitting higher compliance targets with training, the grim reality remains that nearly one in four workers gets injured, with falls and musculoskeletal issues still carving a brutal, predictable path through the workforce.
05 · Category
Sustainability and Innovation21 stats
01
In 2023, 42% of construction firms adopted green building certifications like Green Star
02
Embodied carbon in new buildings reduced by 18% on average for certified projects in 2023
03
Solar PV installations on construction sites reached 1.2 GW cumulative by 2023
04
Waste diversion from landfill in construction hit 76% for major projects in 2023
05
Use of recycled materials in concrete mixes averaged 25% in new infrastructure 2023
06
Net-zero ready buildings certified numbered 150 in Australia by end-2023
07
BIM adoption rate in large construction firms reached 85% in 2023
08
Modular construction accounted for 8.5% of residential builds in 2023, saving 20% time
09
Water usage efficiency improved 22% in Green Star projects from 2018-2023
10
Digital twin technology implemented in 120 major projects by 2023
11
Prefab timber construction grew 35% year-on-year to $2.8 billion in 2023
12
AI-driven predictive maintenance used in 45% of heavy machinery fleets 2023
13
Circular economy practices adopted by 62% of contractors in 2023 survey
14
EV charging infrastructure built into 30% of new commercial parks in 2023
15
3D printing used in 25 housing projects, producing 500 units in 2023
16
Energy performance certificates showed 15% improvement in new builds 2023
17
Drone usage for site surveys increased to 78% among top 100 firms in 2023
18
Low-carbon steel procurement rose to 40% in major bridges 2023
19
IoT sensors monitored energy use in 55% of smart buildings completed 2023
20
Biodiversity net gain achieved in 120 infrastructure projects in 2023
21
Construction 4.0 technologies invested $1.2 billion across industry in 2023
Interpretation
Sustainability and Innovation Interpretation
While the Australian construction industry still loves a good hard hat, 2023 proved it's also serious about smart hats, with nearly half its firms building green, three-quarters of its waste being diverted, and its digital twins, drones, and AI all ensuring that the path to a sustainable future is being constructed with both precision and a surprising amount of recycled concrete.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Priyanka Sharma. (2026, February 13). Australian Construction Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/australian-construction-industry-statistics
MLA
Priyanka Sharma. "Australian Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/australian-construction-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Priyanka Sharma. 2026. "Australian Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/australian-construction-industry-statistics.
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