Queensland’s construction sector could face a rolling labour shortfall of up to 46,000 workers within three years as the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games accelerate an unprecedented infrastructure pipeline, according to a new report by international project advisory firm WT.
The report, From vision to legacy: a game plan for Brisbane 2032 and beyond, forecasts an average labour gap of 27,200 workers in 2026 to 2027, rising to 43,400 in 2027 to 2028, and peaking at 46,000 in 2028 to 2029. The projections assume all currently forecast projects proceed, productivity per worker remains at 2024 to 2025 levels, and no existing workers are lost to retirement, interstate or overseas migration, or sector attrition.
The warning comes as Queensland enters what WT describes as a period of unprecedented concurrent project demand, driven by an estimated 120 billion dollar building and infrastructure pipeline linked to the Games and broader state growth.
WT Queensland State Lead Jack Shelley said the Games represented a macroeconomic turning point for the state.
“Brisbane 2032 is not just a global sporting event, it is a macroeconomic inflection point for Queensland,” Shelley said.
“The volume of concurrent projects is unprecedented. Without early planning and targeted workforce strategies, the risks of delivery delays, cost escalation and lost legacy benefits increase significantly.”
Beyond labour supply, the report raises concerns about site productivity, noting that some Queensland construction sites are averaging as little as 2.5 productive days per week.
WT argues that lifting productivity will be critical to meeting Olympic timelines without inflating costs across the broader market.
The report points to reform initiatives including the Queensland Procurement Policy 2026 and the Queensland Productivity Commission construction inquiry as potential levers to address systemic inefficiencies.
WT National Sports and Venues Sector Lead Tim Bessell said the focus should extend beyond Games delivery to long term value.
“The Games will be judged not just by what is ready on day one, but by the legacy it leaves behind,” Bessell said.
“That means locking in scope early, designing for long term use, and embedding value from the outset, so every venue delivers for Queenslanders well beyond 2032.”
To address the projected labour and productivity gap, WT outlines a series of policy and market based interventions. These include earlier contractor involvement in project planning, scenario based forecasting, and greater investment in skills development, modular construction and off site manufacturing.
The report frames Brisbane 2032 as both a delivery challenge and a structural opportunity for Queensland’s construction sector, arguing that workforce planning and productivity reform will shape not only the Games outcome but the state’s long term economic performance.
The full report is available via WT’s website.
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