People

People are the heart of the construction sector, which is why they need to be at the heart of the sector's transformation. For the industry to move forward, it needs to attract, retain, and develop leaders, have a skilled and engaged workforce, prioritise diversity, health, safety and wellbeing, and improve outcomes for Māori.

Priority 1. Leadership for change

Change is driven by leaders. We need to build the capabilities of current and future leaders so they can effectively create and adapt to change in the sector. The next generation of construction leaders will be key to driving ongoing transformation for the industry.

The vast majority of construction businesses are SMEs, which is why we need leaders of all businesses to understand how the industry needs to change, and to help them acquire the skills and knowledge to take their business on that journey.

Initiatives

Priority 2. Workforce development

To create a culture of growth and innovation, the construction sector needs a resilient and empowered workforce. The construction workforce needs to develop so it can meet the increasing demand for homes, buildings and infrastructure.

The shortage of people and skills throughout the sector means there’s not enough capacity to deliver the growing pipeline of construction projects. This shortage includes a variety of trades and professions, such as plumbers, electricians, builders, engineers, planners and project managers.

To build sustainability, the sector must promote and value diversity and ensure that everyone can choose a prosperous career in construction. Building and construction methods are also evolving in response to new technology, innovation, and environmental and policy changes. The workforce needs to adapt alongside these changes to ensure it has the skills to support a modern, productive industry.

Initiatives

Priority 3. Strong Māori construction economy

The Accord wants to deliver better outcomes for Māori construction businesses, leaders and workers in order to create a thriving, fair and sustainable construction sector. Māori make up 16.7 percent of the construction workforce, however they are more likely to be in low-skilled positions and are underrepresented in leadership roles.

The Accord will partner with tangata whenua to enable change in the construction economy that supports Māori wellbeing and aspirations.

Initiatives

Priority 4. Wellbeing, health and safety for all people

Good health and safety practices are critical to a successful construction industry. From October 2020 to September 2021, 14 construction workers lost their lives on the job in New Zealand. There were 654 injuries in March 2021 alone (source: Workforce). Each year, hundreds more get sick or die from conditions such as cancer and respiratory disease after exposure to chemicals, dusts and fumes, or develop heart conditions related to stress. The high demand and low stability of construction work has contributed to the construction industry having the worst record of mental health issues and suicide of any industry in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Access the Worksafe construction dataset(external link)  - worksafe.govt.nz

Demands on the industry are only going to increase, which is why our wellbeing, health and safety practices, culture and performance must improve. We need to reduce the number of workplace accidents, create a more supportive work environment and improve the sector's health, safety and wellbeing culture.

Initiatives