Boasting a record-breaking $112.4 billion in work commenced last year, the NSW building industry is a powerhouse of growth, opportunity, and complex challenges, as revealed by the latest employment, safety, and economic data.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the NSW building industry employed 312,450 full-time equivalent workers, marking a 3.8% increase from 2022 driven by residential projects
- As of June 2023, there were 45,200 apprentices and trainees in NSW construction trades, comprising 14.5% of the total workforce
- The average weekly wage for construction workers in NSW reached $2,150 in 2023, 12% higher than the national average
- The total value of building work commenced in NSW reached $112.4 billion in 2023, a 7.2% increase from 2022
- Residential building work in NSW accounted for 58% of total construction value at $65.2 billion in 2023
- Non-residential construction output in NSW was $47.1 billion in 2023, up 5.9%
- In 2023, NSW approved 48,200 new residential dwellings, a 2.1% rise from 2022
- Completions of detached houses in NSW totalled 22,500 units in 2023
- Multi-unit residential approvals reached 25,700 in NSW 2023
- In 2023, NSW residential building approvals totalled 48,200 dwellings with Sydney dominating at 67%
- Detached house completions in NSW reached 22,500 units valued at $18.7 billion in 2023
- Multi-residential commencements 25,700 units, average 4.2 storeys in NSW 2023
- In 2023, NSW commercial construction value totalled $24.7 billion, with offices at 8.5%
- Infrastructure pipeline value $187 billion over 10 years announced for NSW 2023
- Road and highway projects under construction 56 valued $28.4 billion NSW 2023
NSW's building industry grew strongly in 2023 despite persistent workforce shortages.
Commercial and Infrastructure
- In 2023, NSW commercial construction value totalled $24.7 billion, with offices at 8.5%
- Infrastructure pipeline value $187 billion over 10 years announced for NSW 2023
- Road and highway projects under construction 56 valued $28.4 billion NSW 2023
- Sydney Metro expansions approved 4 lines, $25 billion value 2023
- Hospital builds 12 projects $4.8 billion in NSW 2023
- Data centre construction boom 15 sites $3.2 billion NSW 2023
- Retail centre developments 28 projects $2.1 billion NSW 2023
- Industrial warehouse approvals 620, 2.4 million sqm NSW 2023
- School builds and upgrades 1,450 projects $5.6 billion NSW 2023-24
- Renewable energy infra 22 projects $12.3 billion NSW 2023
- Port expansions value $1.9 billion at Port Botany NSW 2023
- Office completions 180,000 sqm in Sydney CBD NSW 2023
- Water treatment plants 9 upgrades $2.7 billion NSW 2023
- Stadium and venue projects 5 major $4.1 billion NSW 2023
- Logistics parks developed 14 sites 1.8 million sqm NSW 2023
- Rail line extensions 3 projects $8.9 billion NSW 2023
- Aged care facilities 320 beds added $1.2 billion NSW 2023
- Hotel and hospitality builds 22 projects $1.5 billion NSW 2023
- Airport expansions Parramatta Light Rail stage 2 $2.3 billion 2023
- Defence facilities 8 sites $3.4 billion NSW 2023
Commercial and Infrastructure Interpretation
While NSW is constructing enough offices, warehouses, and data centres to house a small empire, it’s clear the real money and muscle are going into the foundational arteries of the state—roads, rails, hospitals, schools, and the renewable energy grid that will power it all.
Construction Output and Value
- The total value of building work commenced in NSW reached $112.4 billion in 2023, a 7.2% increase from 2022
- Residential building work in NSW accounted for 58% of total construction value at $65.2 billion in 2023
- Non-residential construction output in NSW was $47.1 billion in 2023, up 5.9%
- Engineering construction value in NSW hit $28.6 billion in 2023, driven by infrastructure
- Value of work done in NSW building industry grew 6.8% to $105.3 billion in 2022-23 FY
- Sydney metropolitan area contributed 68% of NSW construction value, $76.5 billion in 2023
- Alterations and additions work valued $9.8 billion in NSW in 2023
- Public sector construction spending in NSW was $32.4 billion in 2023-24 budget
- Private sector non-residential builds totalled $24.7 billion in NSW 2023
- Road and bridge construction value reached $12.2 billion in NSW in 2023
- Average project value for NSW residential builds was $450,000 in 2023
- Construction GDP contribution in NSW was 8.2% or $45.6 billion in 2023
- Value of dwelling commencements in NSW was $42.1 billion in 2023
- Multi-residential construction value $22.4 billion in NSW 2023
- Industrial building work valued $8.9 billion in NSW in 2023
- Hospital and health facility construction $4.5 billion in NSW 2023
- Retail commercial builds totalled $3.2 billion in NSW 2023
- Education sector construction value $5.1 billion in NSW 2023-24
- Work-in-progress value for NSW construction was $189.2 billion at end-2023
- Heavy engineering output $16.8 billion in NSW 2023
- Office building construction declined to $2.1 billion in NSW 2023
- Total factor productivity in NSW construction rose 1.8% in 2023
- Regional NSW construction value $35.7 billion in 2023
- Prefabricated building components market $4.2 billion in NSW 2023
- Demolition and site prep work $2.9 billion in NSW 2023
- Green building certifications contributed $7.3 billion in value NSW 2023
Construction Output and Value Interpretation
The New South Wales building industry has clearly decided that if you're going to rebuild a state, you might as well do it comprehensively, pouring over $112 billion into everything from dream homes and crucial hospitals to the bridges we complain about while crossing them.
Employment and Labour
- In 2023, the NSW building industry employed 312,450 full-time equivalent workers, marking a 3.8% increase from 2022 driven by residential projects
- As of June 2023, there were 45,200 apprentices and trainees in NSW construction trades, comprising 14.5% of the total workforce
- The average weekly wage for construction workers in NSW reached $2,150 in 2023, 12% higher than the national average
- Female participation in NSW building industry roles grew to 12.3% in 2023 from 9.8% in 2020
- NSW construction sector vacancy rate stood at 4.7% in Q4 2023, highest among all industries
- Over 28,500 new construction jobs were created in NSW in the 2022-2023 financial year
- Indigenous employment in NSW building industry was 2.8% in 2023, up 0.5% from prior year
- 65% of NSW construction workers were aged 25-44 in 2023, with median age of 38 years
- Labour turnover rate in NSW construction was 18.2% in 2023, driven by skill shortages
- 7,200 migrant workers entered NSW construction visas in 2023
- Trade qualification holders comprised 72% of NSW building workforce in 2023
- Overtime hours averaged 5.2 per week for NSW construction workers in 2023
- Youth unemployment in NSW construction dropped to 8.1% in 2023 from 11.2%
- 42% of NSW construction firms reported labour shortages as top issue in 2023 survey
- Supervisory roles in NSW building grew by 6.1% to 22,400 in 2023
- Part-time workers made up 11.5% of NSW construction employment in 2023
- 3,450 construction training completions occurred in NSW TAFE in 2023
- Wage growth in NSW building trades was 5.4% year-on-year in Q3 2023
- Self-employed contractors numbered 95,600 in NSW construction in 2023
- Regional NSW construction employment rose 4.2% to 112,300 in 2023
- 18% of NSW construction workers held supervisory certifications in 2023
- Labour productivity in NSW building industry improved 2.1% to $185,000 per worker in 2023
- 52,100 workers aged over 55 in NSW construction in 2023
- New entrant training programs engaged 12,400 NSW youth in 2023
- Union membership in NSW construction was 28% in 2023
- Female apprentices in NSW building trades reached 4,200 in 2023
- Shift work prevalence was 22% among NSW construction employees in 2023
- 6,800 redundancies occurred in NSW construction in 2023 due to project delays
- Skilled migration filled 15% of NSW construction vacancies in 2023
- Average tenure for NSW construction workers was 4.8 years in 2023
Employment and Labour Interpretation
While the New South Wales construction industry is building a promising future with higher wages, more women, and thousands of new jobs, it's simultaneously trying to construct its own workforce out of apprentices, migrant visas, and sheer overtime to fill a gaping hole where experienced tradespeople should be.
Project Approvals and Completions
- In 2023, NSW approved 48,200 new residential dwellings, a 2.1% rise from 2022
- Completions of detached houses in NSW totalled 22,500 units in 2023
- Multi-unit residential approvals reached 25,700 in NSW 2023
- Total building approvals value $78.4 billion in NSW 2023
- Commercial building approvals numbered 1,820 projects in NSW 2023
- Infrastructure project approvals totalled 156 major works in NSW 2023
- Dwelling completions in NSW hit 38,900 units in 2023, up 1.8%
- Sydney approved 32,100 dwellings in 2023, 67% of state total
- Time from approval to commencement averaged 4.2 months for NSW residential in 2023
- 1,250 schools and education facilities approved in NSW 2023
- Hospital project approvals 45 in NSW 2023, value $3.2 billion
- Industrial approvals 620 sites in NSW 2023
- Rejection rate for NSW building applications was 3.4% in 2023
- Major project declarations numbered 28 in NSW 2023 under Part 4
- Completions of apartments 16,400 units in NSW 2023
- Retail approvals value $1.8 billion in NSW 2023
- Road infrastructure approvals 112 projects worth $10.5 billion NSW 2023
- Heritage-listed project modifications approved 320 in NSW 2023
- Average approval time for residential DA was 112 days in NSW councils 2023
- State-significant developments approved 12 in NSW 2023
- Low-rise housing approvals 8,900 units NSW 2023
- Office approvals declined 15% to 210 projects NSW 2023
- Water utility projects approved 34, value $2.4 billion NSW 2023
- Completions lag vs approvals was 12,300 dwellings NSW 2023
- Greenfield subdivision approvals 4,200 lots NSW 2023
- Compliance certificates issued 42,500 for NSW completions 2023
- Affordable housing approvals 2,100 units under NSW schemes 2023
Project Approvals and Completions Interpretation
While celebrating a modest 2.1% rise in approvals, NSW is stuck in a frustrating game of catch-up, where 48,200 new plans hit the desk but only 38,900 keys hit doors, leaving the state building more blueprints than bedrooms as it desperately tries to pave, wire, and plumb its way out of a housing crisis.
Residential Building
- In 2023, NSW residential building approvals totalled 48,200 dwellings with Sydney dominating at 67%
- Detached house completions in NSW reached 22,500 units valued at $18.7 billion in 2023
- Multi-residential commencements 25,700 units, average 4.2 storeys in NSW 2023
- Average cost of new house build in NSW was $452,000 in Q4 2023
- NSW house price index for new builds rose 6.1% to $1.12 million median 2023
- 16,400 apartment completions in NSW 2023, with 62% in Sydney metro
- Townhouse and semi-detached approvals 9,800 units NSW 2023
- Renovation work value in residential sector $12.5 billion NSW 2023
- Vacant residential land sales 15,200 lots in NSW 2023
- Low-rise medium density completions 7,200 units NSW 2023
- Affordable rental housing completions 1,800 units via NSW govt 2023
- Median time to build new detached house 10.2 months NSW 2023
- Oversupply of apartments led to 4.2% vacancy rate in Sydney 2023
- Prefab and modular homes 2,400 units in NSW residential 2023
- Heritage residential alterations approved 1,250 NSW 2023
- Strata subdivisions registered 11,600 in NSW 2023
- Energy-efficient new homes 68% of NSW approvals 2023
- Regional residential approvals 12,400 dwellings NSW 2023
- First home buyer grants issued for 18,500 NSW homes 2023
- High-density towers over 10 storeys 420 approved NSW 2023
- Residential defects claims totalled 3,200 in NSW 2023
- Bushfire-prone residential builds 4,800 NSW 2023
- Social housing completions 3,100 units NSW 2023
- Tiny homes and granny flats approved 2,900 NSW 2023
- Residential construction employment 185,000 FTE NSW 2023
Residential Building Interpretation
Despite a veritable frenzy of construction—from towering high-rises to tiny granny flats—the New South Wales building industry in 2023 resembled a high-stakes game of Jenga, where frantic activity, soaring prices, and an oversupply of apartments precariously balanced against a critical shortage of affordable and social housing.
Safety, Regulations, and Sustainability
- In 2023, NSW construction fatalities numbered 18, down 10% from 2022
- Lost time injury frequency rate in NSW building was 12.4 per million hours 2023
- 42% of NSW construction incidents involved falls from height in 2023
- Compliance audits conducted 5,200 on NSW sites in 2023
- Green Star certified buildings reached 156 new in NSW 2023
- Defects rectification orders issued 2,850 for NSW residential 2023
- NABERS energy ratings 5-star or higher for 78% new commercial NSW 2023
- Silica dust exposure violations 1,420 fines NSW construction 2023
- BASIX compliance rate 96.2% for NSW residential approvals 2023
- Mental health programs implemented on 1,250 NSW sites 2023
- Prosecutions for safety breaches 340 cases NSW building 2023
- Carbon emissions from NSW construction down 4.1% to 12.4 MtCO2e 2023
- Licensed builders in NSW totalled 52,400 active in 2023
- Heat stress incidents 890 reported NSW sites summer 2023
- Waste diversion rate from landfill 72% in NSW construction 2023
- Asbestos removal notifications 14,200 for NSW demos 2023
- SWMS reviews passed 98% first time NSW large projects 2023
- Solar PV installations on new builds 45% NSW residential 2023
- Noise complaints resolved 3,400 from construction NSW 2023
- WHS training completions 89,500 workers NSW 2023
- Biodiversity offsets for 220 projects NSW development 2023
- Fire safety orders rectified 1,120 buildings NSW 2023
- Water efficiency targets met 92% NSW new commercial 2023
- Crane incidents 56 reported NSW construction 2023
- Net zero commitments by 34 major NSW builders 2023
- Rectified building defects fund claims $45 million NSW 2023
- Electric vehicle charging infra in 15% new NSW carparks 2023
Safety, Regulations, and Sustainability Interpretation
While the industry's head is cautiously held higher with falling fatalities and rising green stars, its feet remain perilously tangled in the persistent hazards of falls, silica, and heat, proving that building a safer, smarter future is a complex and ongoing renovation project.
Sources & References
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