Bricklaying is now the single tightest trade shortage in Australia, according to the Housing Industry Association’s latest quarterly figures — and it’s not close. If you’re weighing up which Certificate III to study, or wondering whether the trade you’ve already started is actually in demand, the newest data gives a far more precise answer than a general “the industry needs workers” headline. This guide breaks down the trade-by-trade numbers, what they mean specifically for Melbourne and Brisbane, and how to use that information sensibly when choosing a qualification.
Information checked on: 27 July 2026. Figures below are drawn from the Housing Industry Association’s Trades Availability Index (March and April 2026 releases) and Master Builders Australia. Quarterly data changes as building activity shifts, so always check the original source for the latest release before making decisions.
What the HIA Trades Availability Index Actually Tracks
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) publishes a quarterly Trades Availability Index — a measure of how easy or difficult it currently is for builders to find each type of skilled tradesperson, alongside the price pressure that shortage creates. Each trade is scored on a scale where a positive figure indicates tradespeople are relatively easy to find, and a negative figure indicates a shortage — the further below zero, the tighter that shortage is.
The most recent release, covering the March quarter of 2026 (published 24 April 2026), shows the national index fell to -0.62, down from -0.47 the previous quarter. HIA Senior Economist Tom Devitt noted that access to skilled labour “deteriorated further, across almost all regions and all trades” during the quarter, even as building costs and interest rates remained elevated.
The Trade-by-Trade Shortage Numbers
Here’s how the trades connected to Evantaa’s Certificate III qualifications compare, using the most recently published HIA figures for each:
| Trade | Latest HIA index | Quarter | Shortage level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bricklaying | -1.36 | Q1 2026 (Apr 2026 release) | Most acute shortage in the country |
| Ceramic tiling | -1.03 | Q1 2026 (Apr 2026 release) | Severe shortage |
| Roofing | -0.93 | Q1 2026 (Apr 2026 release) | Severe shortage |
| Carpentry | -0.90 | Q1 2026 (Apr 2026 release) | Severe shortage |
| Solid plastering | -0.54 | Q4 2025 (Mar 2026 release)* | Ongoing shortage |
| Electrical | +0.03 | Q1 2026 (Apr 2026 release) | Only trade in surplus |
*HIA’s April 2026 release did not include an updated public figure for plastering, so the most recent confirmed figure is from the previous (December) quarter. Check HIA’s Trades Report directly for the latest number before relying on it.
The takeaway is straightforward: every trade connected to Evantaa’s building and construction courses is currently sitting in shortage territory, with bricklaying and tiling the most acute. Electrical is the only trade HIA currently rates in surplus nationally.
Melbourne and Brisbane: Where the Shortage Bites Hardest
The national figure hides some real differences between cities. Here’s the regional breakdown from the same April 2026 release:
| Location | HIA index (Q1 2026) |
|---|---|
| Brisbane | -0.83 |
| Regional Queensland | -0.74 |
| Melbourne | -0.57 |
| Regional Victoria | -0.28 |
| National average | -0.62 |
Brisbane’s shortage is noticeably tighter than Melbourne’s right now. That’s consistent with what Evantaa has covered before on the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games construction pipeline, which is adding to Queensland’s existing housing demand — see our earlier article on the Brisbane 2032 building boom for more detail on that specific driver. Regional Victoria, by contrast, currently has the mildest shortage of any region HIA tracks.
Why Bricklaying and Tiling Are Feeling It Most
HIA’s reporting points to a combination of factors rather than one single cause:
- Building activity picked up in the March quarter, adding pressure to an already-stretched workforce.
- Land costs have risen roughly sixfold since 2000 — far outpacing growth in trade and materials prices — which HIA notes is squeezing overall construction capacity alongside the labour shortage.
- Public infrastructure projects, particularly around the Brisbane Olympics, are increasingly competing with residential building for the same skilled trades.
Bricklaying and tiling are both finishing-stage or structural trades that are difficult to automate and slow to train up new workers for, which likely contributes to why they’re sitting further below zero than trades like carpentry.
What This Means If You’re Choosing a Certificate III
A tight shortage in the data is useful context — not a guarantee of anything. Here’s how the trades map to Evantaa’s current course offering:
| HIA trade category | Related Evantaa qualification |
|---|---|
| Bricklaying | Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying (CPC33020) |
| Ceramic tiling | Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling (CPC31320) |
| Carpentry | Certificate III in Carpentry (CPC30326) |
| Solid plastering | Certificate III in Solid Plastering (CPC31020) |
HIA’s index doesn’t currently publish separate figures for cabinet making or painting and decorating, so this data can’t tell you where those two Evantaa qualifications sit on the same scale — worth keeping in mind if you’re comparing all five trades side by side.
What Employers Are Saying About Apprentices Right Now
Separately from the HIA figures, Master Builders Australia reported in late July 2026 that the construction sector remains “hundreds of thousands of workers short” of what’s needed to meet housing and infrastructure targets, despite strong recent jobs growth across the broader economy. The organisation also cited national data showing that around 95% of trade apprenticeship completers secure employment after training — a general industry statistic, not a promise tied to any individual course, provider or student.
Master Builders is using figures like these to push for stronger apprenticeship incentives and school-to-trade pathways — useful context for understanding why the industry keeps highlighting trade training as a priority, but not something that changes any individual student’s outcome on its own.
Practical Next Steps If You’re Weighing Up a Trade
- Check the current HIA Trades Report yourself before making a decision — quarterly figures move, and this article reflects data as at 27 July 2026.
- Talk to Evantaa’s Student Services team about entry requirements, delivery mode and timing for the Certificate III you’re considering at the Melbourne or Brisbane campus.
- Weigh the data alongside your own interests and physical preferences, not just the shortage numbers — our trade comparison guide covers the day-to-day differences between carpentry, bricklaying, tiling, plastering and cabinet making.
- Remember that a shortage is context, not a contract. Your own effort, location and the employer market at the time you finish still shape the outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a trade shortage mean I’m guaranteed a job after finishing my Certificate III?
No. Shortage data reflects industry-wide conditions at a point in time, not a guarantee for any individual student. Evantaa Institute does not guarantee employment, wages or licensing outcomes for any course.
What exactly is the HIA Trades Availability Index?
It’s a quarterly measure published by the Housing Industry Association that scores how easy or difficult builders currently find it to access each skilled trade, alongside associated price pressure. Positive figures indicate relative oversupply; negative figures indicate a shortage.
Why isn’t cabinet making included in this data?
HIA’s public Trades Availability Index summaries don’t currently break out a separate figure for cabinet making or painting and decorating. That doesn’t mean there’s no demand for those trades — it just means this particular dataset can’t speak to them directly.
Where can I check the latest figures myself?
HIA publishes its Trades Report at hia.com.au, and Master Builders Australia publishes workforce commentary at masterbuilders.com.au. Both are updated regularly, so check directly for the most current release before making decisions.
Final Thoughts
The newest data makes one thing clear: bricklaying, tiling, carpentry and plastering are all sitting in genuine shortage territory across Australia right now, and Brisbane’s gap is currently wider than Melbourne’s. That’s useful, current context for anyone choosing a trade qualification — but the right course for you still comes down to the work itself, your own strengths, and a direct conversation with Evantaa’s Student Services team about your options.
Curious how these trades compare day-to-day, not just on paper? Explore Evantaa Institute’s current trade qualifications, or get in touch with Student Services in Melbourne or Brisbane to talk through which course fits you.
Sources
- HIA — Skilled labour remains a constraint (3 March 2026)
- HIA — Strong home building activity highlights ongoing demand for skilled trades (24 April 2026)
- HIA — Trades Report (data & forecasts hub)
- Master Builders Australia — Labour data and AI report findings strengthen case for construction careers (23 July 2026)
- Evantaa Institute — Our Courses