South Australia’s construction industry is booming, and the state’s apprenticeship numbers are proving it.
New data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research has revealed a massive increase in construction apprenticeships across the state, with South Australia recording some of the strongest growth in the nation.
In the September quarter alone, construction apprenticeship commencements jumped by an impressive 41 per cent, with 550 new apprentices starting their careers in the industry. That’s the second-highest growth rate in Australia and nearly double the national average.
Construction apprenticeship completions also climbed, rising 34.2 per cent compared to the same period last year, with nearly 300 South Australians officially finishing their trade training.
Even more impressive, South Australia was the only state or territory to record an increase in construction apprentices currently in training, while the national figure fell by 7.2 per cent.
Across all industries, apprenticeship and traineeship commencements were up 19 per cent, reaching 1,885 in the September quarter. Around two-thirds of those were in technical and trade occupations, including construction, engineering, and electrotechnology.
Education, Training and Skills Minister Lucy Hood said,” Increased apprentice activity at every stage – from those starting their construction trade to finishing their training – puts us ahead of the eastern states, and we need that growth to continue.
“These figures reflect a strong pipeline of workers in priority areas which we will keep building to meet the skills needs of our state.”
The strong growth comes at a crucial time, with South Australia pushing ahead with major housing developments, infrastructure upgrades, and large-scale projects like AUKUS.
To help keep the pipeline flowing, the State Government is rolling out new initiatives, including more than 1,000 new construction pathways through scholarships, apprenticeships, and industry partnerships.
Additional support is also being delivered to Master Builders SA’s Born to Build program, alongside three new Technical Colleges in Gawler, Marden, and Murray Bridge.
A new TAFE Trades Workshop in Mount Barker will further boost training capacity, creating opportunities for an estimated 1,200 extra apprentices.
Master Builders SA Chief Executive Will Frogley said, “There are two main reasons South Australia has bucked the trend of declining apprenticeship numbers.
“Our industry has consistently been one of the best performing in the nation, and we’ve also led the way careers are promoted.
“The State Government’s strong support for technical colleges and industry-leading programs like Born to Build have radically changed things for the better.”
More than 1,300 construction workers completed their apprenticeships in the 12 months to September 2025, up 36.3 per cent year-on-year.
Even better, 97 per cent of South Australian apprentices and trainees were employed or undertaking further study after completing their qualifications in 2025, the highest rate in the country.
With nearly 90,000 South Australians already employed in construction, contributing $11.75 billion to the local economy, the future of the industry is looking rock solid.
