While Queensland's construction cranes paint a familiar skyline, the industry's true impact is staggering: fuelling one in ten jobs and generating $2.50 in downstream economic activity for every dollar spent, this powerhouse contributed over $52 billion to the state's economy last financial year alone.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2022-23 financial year, Queensland's building industry contributed $52.4 billion to the state's Gross State Product, accounting for 8.2% of total GSP
- The total value of building work done in Queensland during 2023 reached $78.9 billion, a 4.7% increase from the previous year
- Construction industry multiplier effect in Queensland generates $2.50 in downstream activity for every $1 spent in building, based on 2021 input-output analysis
- In June 2023 quarter, Queensland construction employment was 242,100 persons, up 2.5% from previous quarter
- Average weekly hours worked by Queensland construction workers were 39.2 hours in 2023
- Female participation in Queensland's building industry was 13.4% of total workforce in 2022, up from 11.2% in 2018
- Total building approvals in Queensland for 2023 were 52,400 projects valued at $35.6 billion
- Non-residential building work commenced in Queensland totalled $13.2 billion in 2023
- Engineering construction turnover in Queensland was $24.1 billion for 2022-23
- In 2023, Queensland issued 38,200 residential building approvals for houses and units combined
- Median value of new detached houses approved in Queensland was $512,000 in 2023
- Multi-unit residential approvals in Queensland totalled 10,000 dwellings worth $6.3 billion in 2023
- Commercial office building commencements in Queensland totalled $2.8 billion in 2023
- Retail building work done in Queensland reached $1.9 billion in 2022-23
- Industrial warehouse approvals in Queensland were 1,800 projects valued at $3.4 billion in 2023
Queensland's building industry is vital, contributing billions to the economy and supporting thousands of jobs.
Commercial and Industrial Building
- Commercial office building commencements in Queensland totalled $2.8 billion in 2023
- Retail building work done in Queensland reached $1.9 billion in 2022-23
- Industrial warehouse approvals in Queensland were 1,800 projects valued at $3.4 billion in 2023
- Hospitality and accommodation construction in Queensland totalled $1.2 billion in 2023
- Health and aged care facility builds in Queensland valued $2.1 billion in 2023
- Education building projects in Queensland public sector were $1.5 billion in 2022-23
- Queensland data centre construction boom saw $4.7 billion approved in 2023
- Manufacturing plant expansions in Queensland industrial sector valued $2.3 billion in 2023
- Hotel developments in Queensland tourism areas totalled 15 projects worth $900 million in 2023
- Logistics and distribution centre floor space approved was 450,000 sqm in Queensland 2023
- Queensland commercial building vacancy rate influenced new supply of 120,000 sqm office space in 2023
- Renewable energy industrial facilities construction reached $3.6 billion in Queensland 2023
- Retail construction approvals in QLD CBD areas valued $850 million in 2023
- QLD industrial vacancy rate dropped to 1.8% driving $2.9 billion new supply 2023
- Office fit-outs in QLD commercial sector totalled $1.1 billion in 2023
- Hospital expansions in QLD valued $1.8 billion across 12 projects in 2023
- University building works in QLD totalled $900 million in 2023
- Data centre capacity added in QLD was 150MW in 2023 constructions
- Food processing plant builds in QLD regional areas $1.4 billion 2023
- Brisbane airport precinct industrial developments $2.2 billion approved 2023
- Mixed-use commercial-residential towers in QLD Gold Coast $3.1 billion 2023
- Warehouse rental growth drove 28% increase in QLD industrial starts 2023
- Aged care facility beds added via construction 4,200 in QLD 2023
- Port-related industrial construction in QLD $1.7 billion in 2023
Commercial and Industrial Building Interpretation
Queensland’s economy is quite literally building its future, with office workers, warehouse robots, hospital patients, and data servers all simultaneously fighting over the same construction crews and cement trucks.
Construction Activity and Output
- Total building approvals in Queensland for 2023 were 52,400 projects valued at $35.6 billion
- Non-residential building work commenced in Queensland totalled $13.2 billion in 2023
- Engineering construction turnover in Queensland was $24.1 billion for 2022-23
- Value of work done on residential buildings in Queensland reached $28.4 billion in 2023
- Number of dwelling units commenced in Queensland was 45,100 in 2023, down 1.2% from 2022
- Public sector construction expenditure in Queensland was $9.7 billion in 2022-23
- Private sector building activity in Queensland totalled $65.3 billion in 2023
- Road and bridge construction output in Queensland was $7.8 billion in 2023
- Alterations and additions work valued $4.2 billion in Queensland residential sector 2023
- Heavy industry construction starts in Queensland numbered 1,250 projects worth $5.6 billion in 2023
- Construction industry productivity growth in Queensland was 1.8% per annum 2018-2023
- Total floor area approved for buildings in Queensland was 12.4 million sqm in 2023
- Detached house commencements in Queensland totalled 32,500 units valued at $15.9 billion in 2023
- Engineering construction employment in QLD was 56,400 in June 2023
- QLD building work in pipeline totalled $142 billion as of Dec 2023
- Monthly value of construction work done in QLD was $6.8 billion in Sep 2023 quarter
- Non-dwelling building approvals valued $8.9 billion in QLD 2023
- QLD government capital works program was $28.5 billion for 2023-24
- Tender activity for QLD construction projects averaged $4.1 billion monthly in 2023
- Floor space under construction in QLD non-residential was 3.2 million sqm in 2023
- QLD construction inflation rate was 6.2% in 2023
- Number of active QLD building sites was 45,200 in mid-2023
- Value of house transfers triggering construction in QLD was $12.3 billion in 2023
- Commercial sector work done grew 3.4% to $16.7 billion in QLD 2023
Construction Activity and Output Interpretation
Amidst the roar of $65 billion in private sector ambition and the necessary hum of $9.7 billion in public sector stewardship, Queensland’s building industry in 2023 proved its foundations were poured in pragmatism, meticulously laying bricks with one hand while keeping a firm grip on a $142 billion pipeline of future blueprints with the other.
Economic Impact
- In the 2022-23 financial year, Queensland's building industry contributed $52.4 billion to the state's Gross State Product, accounting for 8.2% of total GSP
- The total value of building work done in Queensland during 2023 reached $78.9 billion, a 4.7% increase from the previous year
- Construction industry multiplier effect in Queensland generates $2.50 in downstream activity for every $1 spent in building, based on 2021 input-output analysis
- In 2023, residential building approvals in Queensland totalled 48,200 dwellings, valued at $22.1 billion
- Queensland building industry's export-related construction services were valued at $1.2 billion in 2022, supporting 5,200 jobs indirectly
- Tax revenue from Queensland's construction sector amounted to $6.8 billion in GST and payroll taxes in 2022-23
- The industry's share of Queensland's private non-financial business investment was 25.3% or $15.7 billion in 2023
- Construction wages in Queensland averaged $1,850 per week in November 2023, 12% above the state average
- Queensland building industry supported 278,000 direct and indirect jobs in 2023, equating to 10% of total employment
- Value added by construction in Queensland grew by 5.1% annually from 2018-2023, outpacing national average of 3.8%
- Queensland building industry GDP contribution was $48.7 billion in 2021-22, 7.9% of GSP
- Construction investment as % of Queensland GSP was 11.4% in 2023
- Indirect employment multiplier for QLD construction is 1.8 jobs per direct job in 2023
- Building industry stamp duty revenue for QLD was $3.9 billion in 2022-23
- QLD construction R&D expenditure totalled $450 million in 2023
- Share of QLD exports supported by construction was 4.2% or $2.1 billion in 2023
- Construction drove 42% of QLD business insolvencies in 2023, impacting $1.2 billion turnover
- Average firm size in QLD building industry was 12.4 employees per business in 2023
- Venture capital investment in QLD construction tech was $180 million in 2023
- Construction's contribution to QLD regional economies averaged 12.6% of GRP in 2022
Economic Impact Interpretation
While Queensland's builders are quietly propping up one-tenth of the workforce and generating a gold-plated $2.50 ripple for every dollar spent, it seems their own foundations are a bit shaky, given they also drove a sobering 42% of the state's business collapses.
Residential Building
- In 2023, Queensland issued 38,200 residential building approvals for houses and units combined
- Median value of new detached houses approved in Queensland was $512,000 in 2023
- Multi-unit residential approvals in Queensland totalled 10,000 dwellings worth $6.3 billion in 2023
- Queensland's housing starts for social housing reached 2,400 units in 2022-23
- Average size of new Queensland homes approved was 210 sqm in 2023, down 2% from 2022
- Owner-builder residential permits in Queensland numbered 4,500 in 2023
- Rental housing completions in Queensland were 8,700 units valued at $4.1 billion in 2023
- Queensland detached house approval values grew 6.8% to $18.2 billion in 2023
- Semi-detached and terrace house approvals totalled 2,900 units in Queensland 2023
- Modular and prefabricated residential builds accounted for 7.2% of Queensland approvals in 2023
- First home buyer housing grants supported 12,400 Queensland builds worth $6.5 billion in 2022-23
- Residential construction costs index in Brisbane rose 5.4% in 2023
- Queensland apartment approvals averaged 450 units per month in 2023
- Total value of new Queensland residential dwellings under construction was $42.7 billion in June 2023
- Residential vacancy influenced 15% drop in QLD multi-unit starts in 2023
- QLD regional residential approvals totalled 22,400 units in 2023
- Time to complete QLD residential builds averaged 11.2 months in 2023
- Prefab residential market share in QLD reached 12% of approvals in 2023
- QLD affordable housing completions were 3,100 units under government schemes 2023
- Median residential construction cost per sqm in Brisbane was $2,450 in 2023
- QLD townhouse approvals surged 18% to 3,200 units in 2023
- Renovation permits for residential in QLD totalled 28,000 valued $3.8 billion 2023
- Solar panel installations in new QLD homes hit 65% penetration in 2023
- QLD metro residential pipeline was 78,000 dwellings in Dec 2023
- Dual occupancy approvals in QLD suburbs totalled 1,650 in 2023
- Residential insurance claims for defects in QLD numbered 5,200 in 2023
Residential Building Interpretation
While Queensland feverishly builds everything from tiny $512k boxes to billion-dollar apartment blocks, it's clear we're constructing a housing market where affordability is being assembled off-site, optimism is solar-powered, and the only thing growing faster than the $42.7 billion construction pipeline is the queue of people hoping to live in it.
Safety, Sustainability, and Regulation
- Total lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) in Queensland construction was 1.2 per million hours in 2022-23
- 1,450 notifiable incidents reported in Queensland building sites in 2023
- Compliance audits on Queensland builders showed 87% pass rate for QBCC licences in 2023
- Carbon emissions from Queensland construction sector totalled 12.4 Mt CO2-e in 2022
- 92% of Queensland building projects met Green Star sustainability certification targets in 2023
- Workplace fatalities in Queensland construction numbered 14 in 2022-23
- Defective building rectification orders issued by QBCC totalled 2,800 in 2023
- Energy-efficient building compliance rate was 94.5% under NatHERS in Queensland 2023
- Musculoskeletal disorder claims in construction were 28% of total workers comp in Queensland 2023
- 76% of Queensland builders adopted digital BIM tools for safety planning in 2023 survey
- Fines for regulatory breaches in Queensland building totalled $4.2 million in 2022-23
- Waste diversion from landfill in construction reached 78% in Queensland 2023
- Mental health support programs covered 65% of Queensland construction workforce in 2023
- Building code compliance audits passed 89% first time in Queensland metropolitan areas 2023
- Renewable material use in Queensland builds increased to 22% by value in 2023
- Serious injury claims in QLD construction fell 8% to 2,100 in 2023
- 4,200 safety improvement notices issued on QLD sites in 2023
- QBCC licensed contractors numbered 52,400 in QLD as of 2023
- Water usage efficiency in QLD green buildings averaged 35% savings in 2023
- Falls from height incidents comprised 32% of QLD construction claims 2023
- 1.1 million tonnes recycled materials used in QLD construction 2023
- Heat stress related incidents reported 450 on QLD sites in summer 2023
- 88% of QLD builders compliant with anti-discrimination regs in 2023 audits
- Embodied carbon reduction targets met by 61% of large QLD projects 2023
- Provisional improvement notices by workers totalled 1,200 in QLD construction 2023
- Biodiversity net gain achieved in 45% of QLD infrastructure projects 2023
- Psychological hazard assessments completed by 79% of QLD firms 2023
Safety, Sustainability, and Regulation Interpretation
Despite impressive strides in sustainability and digital adoption, Queensland's construction industry remains a precarious dance between commendable progress and sobering realities, where record-breaking waste diversion and renewable material use stand uncomfortably alongside persistent worker injuries, carbon emissions, and a stubborn tally of avoidable fatalities.
Workforce and Employment
- In June 2023 quarter, Queensland construction employment was 242,100 persons, up 2.5% from previous quarter
- Average weekly hours worked by Queensland construction workers were 39.2 hours in 2023
- Female participation in Queensland's building industry was 13.4% of total workforce in 2022, up from 11.2% in 2018
- Apprentices and trainees in Queensland construction numbered 22,400 in 2023, comprising 9.2% of workforce
- Unemployment rate in Queensland construction sector was 3.8% in 2023, below state average of 4.2%
- Over 15,000 international skilled migrants entered Queensland construction visas in 2022-23
- Part-time employment in Queensland building industry accounted for 12.7% of jobs in 2023
- Indigenous employment in construction reached 4.1% of Queensland workforce in 2022
- Job vacancies in Queensland construction averaged 18,200 per month in 2023
- Underemployment rate for construction workers in Queensland was 5.6% in 2023
- Labour turnover rate in Queensland building firms was 14.5% annually in 2022
- Self-employment comprised 28.3% of Queensland construction workforce in 2023
- Youth employment (15-24 years) in construction was 16.8% of total in Queensland 2023
- Wage growth in Queensland construction was 4.9% year-on-year to November 2023
- Migrant workers made up 22.4% of Queensland building industry employees in 2022
- Underemployment in QLD construction fell to 4.9% in Dec 2023 quarter
- Casual employment share in QLD building was 25.6% in 2023
- 18-24 year old retention rate in QLD construction apprenticeships was 72% in 2023
- Disability employment in QLD construction reached 3.2% in 2022 census data
- Job ads for QLD construction roles averaged 2,450 per week in 2023
- Overtime hours as % of total in QLD construction was 8.7% in 2023
- Mature age workers (55+) comprised 19.4% of QLD construction workforce 2023
- Trade qualification holders were 68% of QLD building employees in 2023
- Labour productivity per worker in QLD construction was $285,000 in 2023
- Gender pay gap in QLD construction narrowed to 14.2% in 2023
- Interstate worker inflow to QLD construction was 9,200 in 2023
- Union membership in QLD building industry was 22.1% in 2023
Workforce and Employment Interpretation
While Queensland's building industry is impressively busy and skilled, constructing a more equitable, stable, and permanent workforce from its current foundation remains the next major project on its blueprint.
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