When JMac’s now Senior Project Manager Raik landed in Australia from Germany in 2011, the plan was simple. Travel, take a break from the pressure of engineering back home and do some labouring work while seeing the country.
If you're running a civil or construction business in Australia right now, you already know the story, the work is there, the pipeline is massive and the employees aren't. Australia's five year Major Public Infrastructure Pipeline has hit a record $242 billion, up 14% year on year . The industry is currently short 141,000 staff needed to deliver that pipeline and that shortage is projected to surge past 300,000 by mid 2027 . In a recent industry survey, 63% of firms cited labour cost and 59% cited labour and skills shortages as a substantial threat to project delivery. International recruitment and skilled visa sponsorship aren't a nice to have anymore, for a lot of businesses, they're the only way to keep jobs moving. South East Queensland is carrying some of the heaviest pressure with the infrastructure pipeline reaching a record $127 billion over the next five years, with transport, mining, defence, renewables and water all driving sustained demand simultaneously. There’s 139 occupations have been in persistent shortage every year since 2021, these are not temporary fluctuations but structural gaps in exactly the fields civil and construction businesses are trying to fill. Construction Skills Queensland projects an average annual shortfall of 18,200 construction workers over the next eight years, peaking at 50,000 workers short in 2026-27 . The 2032 Games Venue Infrastructure adds a fixed, immovable deadline to an already stretched labour market. AWX has been placing skilled staff into civil and construction roles since 2000, across metro and regional Australia. Through our government approved On Hire Labour Agreement (OHLA) and international recruitment services , we can sponsor skilled overseas workers under the 482 visa and place them directly with your crew, handling visas, compliance and mobilisation so you can focus on running the project. We've got 2,000+ people in work every week from a database of 400,000+ candidates and 9 out of 10 of our clients recommend us. Luke McFadzean, AWX General Manager National Accounts and Growth, has a clear read on what's driving demand. “The civil and construction pipeline in Australia right now is unlike anything we've seen in a decade. The problem is finding local people to do the work and whilst interstate migration will help a portion of local shortages, we have intentionally setup international recruitment through the 482 visa in anticipation of trade shortages and it's why we've invested heavily in making that process as straightforward as possible for our clients,” said Luke. This guide runs through everything you need to know about Australian visa sponsorship in the context of civil and construction, what the 482 visa is, how it works, what's involved, and how AWX manages it.
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Problem Our client handles grounds maintenance and landscaping for several government and corporate sites working across areas like schools, parks, gardens and nature strips. They hit a snag, struggling to get enough hands on deck for their existing summer contractual requirements across both the Sunshine Coast Council and City of Moreton Bay. They needed to ramp up quickly to meet their service obligations - the work was lined up but they didn’t have enough landscape maintenance crew available to get it done. Solution That’s where we came in. We scaled their workforce up to match their needs, flexing from a handful of workers to 12 on the ground within two weeks, spread across multiple sites. One week it was two staff here, three there and the next week, we doubled the number of crew in the field to where they were needed. "Having a national database of more than 400,000 candidates means we can move quickly when our clients need extra hands. Whether they’re chasing two staff or 20, we can scale crews up and down to match demand without compromising on quality," said Steve Hunter, Sunshine Coast Branch Manager. The work covered it all - mowing, whipper snipping, park maintenance, school grounds, gardens, nature strips, you name it. And when the workload eased off, we wound the crew numbers back down for our client so there was no wasted resources. Outcome The client hit every contractual target. All sites were serviced, the work was done on time and they didn’t have to scramble for staff. They could scale up when needed, scale down when it slowed and stay focused on running their business. "Because we had a dedicated local Account Manager on the Sunshine Coast who understood the client's contracts, sites and workforce requirements, we could respond quickly and make sure the right people were in the right place when they were needed," said Steve. Flexibility. That’s the name of the game. The landscaping client got a workforce that moves at their pace, not the other way around.
"What matters is having a supplier who understands our needs."
The market hasn't given anyone a breather in the last 5 - 10 years - candidates who were easier to find six months ago have gone quiet and roles that would wrap up quickly are dragging on longer than anyone budgeted for. Here's the thing, it's not one market doing this. It's several and they're behaving completely differently depending on where you are. AWX National Recruitment Manager Rob O'Sullivan works across the country and he's got a clear read on what's actually going on, noting markable differences between what’s happening in Queensland versus New South Wales and Victoria. In Victoria and New South Wales, there’s a large volume of candidates applying but finding the right fit takes more work than it did a year ago. Decision making has slowed on both sides, clients are more cautious, candidates are being more selective and cost pressures are making everyone think twice. “We’re seeing roles fall over more often at the decision stage than at the sourcing stage,” Rob said. “Experienced candidates are still there, but they won’t wait indefinitely.” Queensland is a completely different beast. The work is there, but the people to fill it aren't. “The biggest difference is how tight supply really is in Queensland, especially in trades and civil. Demand hasn’t softened, the supply is just locked up,” said Rob. “Anyone with the right licences, tickets and site experience is already on a site somewhere. They're not browsing job ads, they're waiting for something worth moving for.” What does the data say? SEEK’s April 2026 national report across Construction, Trades and Services and Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics backs up exactly what Rob and the AWX team are seeing on the ground and with national unemployment sitting at 4.3%, it’s not the same story everywhere you look. In NSW and Victoria, applications are running at roughly two to three times the number of jobs, which aligns with what we’re seeing (See example in figure1). There's no shortage of volume, but quality is the real challenge. The work is in cutting through the noise to find the right fit. Over in Queensland it's completely reversed. Job ads are almost double the number of applications and applications remain low. The people with the right tickets and site experience are already on a site somewhere and they're just not applying. This points to a supply problem, not a demand one and businesses are having to compete to get them across the line.
AWX scaled a 70 person workforce in Sydney in just three weeks without compromising on quality. Every candidate was carefully screened to meet multiple requirements giving the client a workforce that was ready to step into fast paced food production, perform and stay longer saving time, cost and admin. Problem Our Brisbane food client needed a big workforce boost fast at their Sydney site to keep up with rising production demand. Their site runs about 500 people a day and they were bringing in two labour hire businesses while shifting some casuals to a more flexible model. They needed 70 locals and permanent residents across a bunch of roles – production line workers and packers, machine operators, logistics and storeman personnel as well as hygiene and quality control workers. The challenge was finding a high volume of people who ticked a number of boxes. The client needed this done quickly and reliably, without spending time on recruitment or onboarding and with workers who would perform, stay and reduce turnover. Solution We scaled up in blocks, starting small so each candidate could be trained properly and settle into the team. This meant the client didn’t have 70 new starters overwhelming supervisors and everyone could hit the ground running. Over three weeks, we grew the workforce to 70, working towards a bigger target. Every candidate went through thorough client specific screening to ensure they could do the job properly and keep up in fast paced food production. To reduce turnover, before day one, our team ran site walkthroughs so candidates could see the environment, site layout, culture and expectations before accepting the role. AWX also supported the clients online induction - safety, payroll and fitness for work onboarding checking completion before submission to the client. Each candidate was shown site processes and timesheets so they could be productive from the start, freeing up supervisors to focus on operations. Once they started, our account manager stayed in touch, visiting the site regularly and running ongoing training and skills checks. This ensured everyone stays confident, competent and productive meaning the client spends less time fixing mistakes, saved money and has a workforce who show up that they can rely on. Outcome Our client now has a skilled, reliable workforce that that keeps production moving without slowing the line. By scaling in blocks, screening thoroughly and providing ongoing candidate support, AWX removed the time, cost and admin of recruiting and onboarding while reducing turnover. This allows the client to focus on what they do best, meet customer demand and keep operations running smoothly, confident their workforce is capable and dependable. They can rely on us not just as a labour hire provider, but as a true business partner staying engaged, supporting operations and helping their business grow.
Traditionally, AWX's mining client ran every detail of their New to Industry (NTI) haul truck operator intake themselves - screening, testing, logistics and paperwork. AWX saw an opportunity to lift that responsibility from the client entirely. We turned a time consuming process into a fully managed end to end solution. AWX organised, staffed and funded the assessment centre, ran practical activities and tests, managed compliance and onboarding and ensured each new operator was site read. The client could then focus on operations, confident intake was handled professionally and reliably.
We sat down with AWX's National Training and Compliance Manager, Stirling Drake, to dive into his journey with the business, and hear his in sights into the various opportunities available to our candidates. From labouring to hiring – Stirling's career journey Stirling's journey with AWX is a testament to the business's commitment to nurturing talent from within. "I decided to start my own Landscape Construction business in 2017 and I worked for AWX as a landscape labourer on the side. From there, I was a full time labourer with AWX before transitioning into full-time work with AWX after an onsite injury brought me into the head office in Brisbane on suitable duties through work cover. Once cleared to return to pre-injury duties, I was offered a casual position in the operations team, assisting AWX during staff leave, and off the back of that secured a full-time position as a recruitment consultant. My career path continued as an account manager, operations manager, corporate client manager, and now, I'm the training manager," Stirling said. Opportunities and advice for candidates 1. Wealth of knowledge Stirling believes that AWX offers a wealth of opportunities for those who seize them. "There's a vast knowledge base here at AWX, and I've learned more about employment in the last six years than in my entire life prior. You need to be open to absorbing as much as you can from the people around you and apply it in your day-to-day work." 2. Work with tier one clients Stirling’s insight to working with clients, "Labour hire is an excellent way to step into the world of major tier one clients that AWX provides workers for. If you prove your worth and dedicate yourself, there's always an opportunity to climb the ranks." 3. “Be open minded” Stirling's advice for candidates is simple yet powerful: "Be open minded and absorb as much as you can. AWX has many working parts, and if you're willing, you can learn about all of them. This knowledge will empower you in your roles as a recruiter, accounts manager or in payroll." The AWX advantage 1. Diverse work experience One of the advantages of working with AWX, as Stirling notes, is the diversity of roles. "Through a labour hire company like AWX, you can explore various industries before deciding your career path. Whether it's construction, landscaping, admin, pick-packing, or government roles, AWX opens doors to more opportunities than you'd find in a small family-run business." 2. Personalised support Stirling reflects on his time with AWX as a landscape labourer, "I never felt like I was just a number. AWX treated me like a person. My go-to account manager used to call me on a Sunday night, asking about my availability, and by Sunday afternoon, my workweek was lined up." 3. Secure qualifications Stirling highlights AWX's dedication to supporting candidates in acquiring qualifications. "We provide assistance in obtaining tickets through government funding and partnerships with training organisations. Our in-house training team aids with candidate traineeships for clients. We're always eager to help candidates upskill." Beyond the office Outside of AWX, Stirling and his wife run their own manufacturing business, Angry Drake Smoked Goods, where they create their own smoked sauces and condiments. This venture keeps them busy and engaged during weekends at local markets. Stirling's journey at AWX highlights our commitment to fostering talent and providing diverse opportunities for growth. AWX is not just a workplace; it's a place where individuals like Stirling can shape their careers. Find out how to seize similar opportunities > awx.com.au/job-results
