Industry data
Construction industry statistics
The numbers behind Australian construction: the size of the industry, what construction prices are doing, the building and engineering work under way, the homes approved and started, the trades and businesses that do the work, the companies entering external administration and the public infrastructure planned. Each figure links to the agency that published it and shows the period it applies to.
Reviewed 30 October 2026
Key figures
- 1,403.7 thousand people employed in construction
- $664,869 million sales and service income of construction businesses
- 478,651 construction businesses trading
- 5.7% rise in house construction prices over the year
- 3,472 construction companies entered external administration for the first time
- $242 billion major public infrastructure pipeline, as projected by Infrastructure Australia
Size of the industry
What the construction industry earns, what it adds to the economy and how many people work in it. The annual income and value added figures come from the ABS Australian Industry release, and employment comes from the ABS Labour Force Survey.
$664,869 million
sales and service income of construction businesses
Up 6.8% on 2023-24.
Link to this figure$191,751 million
industry value added by construction
The ABS estimate of the market value of the industry's output, less the materials and expenses used to produce it.
Link to this figure1,403.7 thousand
people employed in construction
Seasonally adjusted. People whose main job is in the construction industry, from the ABS Labour Force Survey.
Link to this figure| Part of the industry | Industry value added ($m) |
|---|---|
| Construction services | |
| Building construction | |
| Heavy and civil engineering construction |
Values are in millions of dollars. Construction services are the trade and other construction services, such as land development, site preparation, concreting, bricklaying, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, painting and landscaping services, and hire of machinery with an operator.
Link to this chartConstruction costs
How fast construction prices are rising, from the ABS producer price indexes. The output indexes track the prices builders and contractors receive for their work, and the input index tracks the prices of materials used to build houses. They measure price change across the industry, not the cost of any particular project.
4.9%
rise in building construction prices over the year
Output prices for house, other residential and non-residential building. Over the same year, other residential building prices rose 4.1% and non-residential building prices rose 4.8%.
Link to this figure5.7%
rise in house construction prices over the year
Output prices for house construction. Up 1.0% in the September quarter 2026, after a 2.0% rise in the June quarter 2026.
Link to this figure4.6%
rise in heavy and civil engineering construction prices over the year
Output prices for road and bridge construction and other heavy and civil engineering construction.
Link to this figure3.9%
rise in the prices of materials used to build houses over the year
Input to the house construction industry index, a weighted average of the six state capital cities.
Link to this figure| State or territory | Rise over the year |
|---|---|
| Tasmania | |
| Queensland | |
| Western Australia | |
| Australian Capital Territory | |
| South Australia | |
| Northern Territory | |
| New South Wales | |
| Victoria |
Output prices for house construction by state and territory. The ABS compiles each index from prices for work in the capital city, used to represent the whole state or territory.
Link to this chartBuilding and engineering work
The value of building and engineering construction work done each quarter, from the ABS surveys of builders and engineering contractors. The values are chain volume measures, which remove the effect of price changes.
45,834.8 million dollars
value of building work done in the quarter
Seasonally adjusted chain volume measure, reference year 2023-24. Covers new residential and non-residential building and alterations, on approved work over $10,000. Up 1.1% on the March quarter. The ABS says these figures are subject to revision, and final June quarter data will be released on 13 January 2027. They are based on a response rate of approximately 85%, lower than the long term average.
Link to this figure10.0%
rise in building work done compared with a year earlier
Seasonally adjusted chain volume measure. The ABS says these figures are subject to revision, and final June quarter data will be released on 13 January 2027. They are based on a response rate of approximately 85%, lower than the long term average.
Link to this figure37,200.0 million dollars
value of engineering construction work done in the quarter
Seasonally adjusted chain volume measure, reference year 2023-24. Covers all engineering construction work, which excludes buildings such as houses and offices. Down 4.7% on the March quarter.
Link to this figure3.7%
fall in engineering construction work done compared with a year earlier
Seasonally adjusted chain volume measure.
Link to this figure| Type of building work | Value of work done ($m) |
|---|---|
| New residential building | |
| Non-residential building | |
| Alterations and additions to residential buildings |
Seasonally adjusted chain volume measures, in millions of dollars. The ABS says these figures are subject to revision, and final June quarter data will be released on 13 January 2027. They are based on a response rate of approximately 85%, lower than the long term average.
Link to this chartHomes approved and started
New dwellings approved each month, and dwellings started and under construction each quarter, from ABS building statistics. A building approval is the official permit that allows construction to begin.
16,953
dwellings approved in the month
Seasonally adjusted total of dwelling units approved, covering houses and other dwellings such as townhouses and apartments. Down 6.1% on July 2026.
Link to this figure10.3%
rise in dwellings approved compared with a year earlier
Seasonally adjusted.
Link to this figure10,885
private sector houses approved in the month
Seasonally adjusted. Up 18.4% on August 2025.
Link to this figure52,201
dwellings started in the quarter
Seasonally adjusted count of dwellings commenced. Up 7.0% on the March quarter and 14.4% on the June quarter 2025. The ABS says these figures are subject to revision, and final June quarter data will be released on 13 January 2027. They are based on a response rate of approximately 85%, lower than the long term average.
Link to this figure248,733
dwellings under construction
Original estimate. Of these, 95,447 were new houses. The ABS says these figures are subject to revision, and final June quarter data will be released on 13 January 2027. They are based on a response rate of approximately 85%, lower than the long term average.
Link to this figureThe trades
How many people work as technicians and trades workers, how many businesses work in the main building trades, and Infrastructure Australia's estimate of the worker shortage on public infrastructure. The trade business counts come from the ABS count of actively trading businesses, and they count businesses, not individual tradespeople.
2,138.5 thousand
people employed as technicians and trades workers
Original estimate for the OSCA occupation major group, which covers trades in every industry, not only construction.
Link to this figure48,279
electrical services businesses trading
ANZSIC class 3232, electrical services. A count of businesses, not of electricians.
Link to this figure31,380
plumbing services businesses trading
ANZSIC class 3231, plumbing services. A count of businesses, not of plumbers.
Link to this figure66,002
house construction businesses trading
ANZSIC class 3011, house construction. Builders of other residential and non-residential buildings are counted in separate classes.
Link to this figure141,000
estimated shortage of workers on public infrastructure works
Infrastructure Australia's estimate of the shortage of workers on public infrastructure works as of October 2025. Its report shows the shortage by occupation group: engineers, architects and scientists; trades workers and labourers; and project management professionals.
Link to this figureConstruction businesses
How many construction businesses are trading, how many join and leave the count each year, how many survive and what kinds of work they do, from the ABS count of actively trading businesses.
478,651
construction businesses trading
Actively trading businesses in ANZSIC division E, construction, including unincorporated businesses and trusts as well as companies. Up 3.4% on a year earlier. The ABS counts businesses in its profiled population, and other businesses only if they are actively remitting GST.
Link to this figure83,004
construction businesses joined the ABS count of trading businesses
An entry rate of 17.9%.
Link to this figure67,401
construction businesses left the ABS count of trading businesses
An exit rate of 14.6%.
Link to this figure59.6%
of construction businesses trading at the start of the period were still trading at its end
The ABS survival rate for construction businesses operating in June 2022.
Link to this figure| Type of work | Businesses |
|---|---|
| House construction | |
| Carpentry services | |
| Electrical services | |
| Plumbing services | |
| Other residential building construction | |
| Other construction services | |
| Painting and decorating services | |
| Site preparation services | |
| Tiling and carpeting services | |
| Landscape construction services | |
| Non-residential building construction | |
| Plastering and ceiling services | |
| Concreting services | |
| Land development and subdivision | |
| Bricklaying services | |
| Other heavy and civil engineering construction | |
| Air conditioning and heating services | |
| Other building installation services | |
| Roofing services | |
| Structural steel erection services | |
| Fire and security alarm installation services | |
| Glazing services | |
| Road and bridge construction | |
| Hire of construction machinery with operator |
ANZSIC classes in the construction division, from the June 2025 edition, the latest with class detail. The ABS may slightly perturb class counts to protect confidentiality, and later editions revise them.
Link to this chartCompanies in external administration
Construction companies entering external administration, such as liquidation or voluntary administration, or having a controller appointed, for the first time, from ASIC's insolvency statistics. Counts are by financial year, from July to June.
3,472
construction companies entered external administration for the first time
ASIC Series 1, which counts the first time a company enters external administration or has a controller appointed. The industry is the one recorded on the Form 505 lodged by the external administrator or controller.
Link to this figure14,153
companies across all industries entered external administration for the first time
ASIC Series 1, which counts the first time a company enters external administration or has a controller appointed.
Link to this figure| Financial year | Companies |
|---|---|
| 2021-22 | |
| 2022-23 | |
| 2023-24 | |
| 2024-25 | |
| 2025-26 |
ASIC Series 1, first appointments only, by financial year ending 30 June.
Link to this chartThe infrastructure pipeline
Infrastructure Australia's projection of investment in major publicly funded infrastructure projects over its outlook period, from its annual market capacity report. It is a projection, not a measure of work done.
$242 billion
major public infrastructure pipeline, as projected by Infrastructure Australia
Infrastructure Australia's projection of investment in publicly funded projects valued over $100 million in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, and over $50 million in the other states and territories. Up 14% on the previous year's outlook.
Link to this figure| Sector | Projected investment ($b) |
|---|---|
| Transport | |
| Buildings | |
| Utilities |
Infrastructure Australia's projections, in billions of dollars.
Link to this chartCommon questions
How big is the construction industry in Australia?
1,403.7 thousand people were employed in construction. Construction businesses earned $664,869 million in sales and service income, and the industry's value added, its output less the materials and expenses used to produce it, was $191,751 million . 478,651 construction businesses were trading.
Is construction slowing down in Australia?
Building work done rose 10.0% over the year, while engineering construction work fell 3.7% . Dwelling approvals rose 10.3% , and 52,201 dwellings were started in the quarter. Over the financial year, 3,472 construction companies entered external administration for the first time.
How much have construction costs risen in Australia?
House construction prices rose 5.7% over the year, and building construction prices as a whole rose 4.9% , according to the producer price indexes the ABS publishes each quarter. Heavy and civil engineering prices rose 4.6% , and the prices of materials used to build houses rose 3.9% .
How many building approvals are there in Australia?
16,953 dwellings were approved, a rise of 10.3% on a year earlier. Of these, 10,885 were private sector houses.
How many electrical businesses are there in Australia?
48,279 electrical services businesses were trading, according to the ABS count of businesses. This counts businesses, not individual electricians.
How many plumbing businesses are there in Australia?
31,380 plumbing services businesses were trading, according to the ABS count of businesses. This counts businesses, not individual plumbers.
How many tradies are there in Australia?
2,138.5 thousand people were employed as technicians and trades workers. That occupation group includes technicians as well as tradespeople, and covers every industry, not only construction. The construction industry employed 1,403.7 thousand people in all roles.
Is there a tradie shortage in Australia?
Infrastructure Australia estimated a shortage of 141,000 workers on public infrastructure works. It reports that shortage across engineers, architects and scientists, trades workers and labourers, and project management professionals, so it is not a count of tradies alone.
How many construction companies are there in Australia?
478,651 construction businesses were trading, counting unincorporated businesses and trusts as well as companies. The latest class detail shows 66,002 house construction businesses, the class that covers home builders.
How big is Australia's infrastructure pipeline?
Infrastructure Australia projected the major public infrastructure pipeline at $242 billion . It covers publicly funded projects above a size threshold, and it is Infrastructure Australia's projection of investment, not a measure of work done.
Using these figures
You are welcome to quote any figure on this page. Please credit the original publisher named beside it, and link to this page if it saved you time. Each figure has its own link, so you can send readers straight to it.
How these figures are put together
Every figure on this page comes from the published source linked beside it and applies to the period shown with it. Figures are copied as published. Nothing is estimated, adjusted or combined from different sources.
Each figure is checked against its source when the page is reviewed, and the review date is shown at the top of the page. If a source publishes a newer figure before then, or you spot an error, let us know through the contact page.
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Australian Industry, 2024-25 financial year. Economic Activity Survey and ATO administrative data, data cube 81550DO001_202425, released 19 June 2026. Updates: Annual. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Producer Price Indexes, Australia, September 2026. Output of the construction industries and input to the house construction industry, released 30 October 2026. Updates: Quarterly. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Building Activity, Australia, June 2026. ABS Building Activity Survey, released 7 October 2026. Updates the preliminary estimates in Construction Work Done, Australia, and is subject to revision when the next quarter is released. Updates: Quarterly. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Engineering Construction Activity, Australia, June 2026. ABS Engineering Construction Survey of primary contractors, released 30 September 2026. Updates the preliminary estimates released in Construction Work Done, Australia on 26 August 2026. Updates: Quarterly. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Building Approvals, Australia, August 2026. Approvals data from local government and other approving authorities, released 30 September 2026. Updates: Monthly. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Labour Force, Australia, September 2026. ABS Labour Force Survey, quarterly industry and occupation tables 020 and 023_QTR, released 15 October 2026. Updates: Monthly. Seasonally adjusted industry estimates are quarterly; original industry and occupation estimates are also published monthly. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits, July 2022 to June 2026 (data cube 1). ANZSIC division E, construction, released 18 August 2026. Updates: Annual. Industry class detail is released each December. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits, July 2021 to June 2025 (data cube 2). ANZSIC classes in the construction division, released 16 December 2025. Updates: Annual. Industry class detail is released each December. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC): Australian insolvency statistics, Series 1 and Series 2, published 26 October 2026. Forms lodged with ASIC by external administrators and controllers, data to 11 October 2026. Series 1 counts the first time a company enters external administration or has a controller appointed. Updates: Weekly, two weeks in arrears. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
- Infrastructure Australia: 2025 Infrastructure Market Capacity report. Infrastructure Australia's Market Capacity Intelligence System, covering publicly funded infrastructure projects, released 13 November 2025. Updates: Annual. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
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