Australian state targets UK construction workers with £6k offer

Britain’s builders are being offered a £6,000 sweetener to lure them to Western Australia.

The Australian state is experiencing a boom period of growth on the back of multi-million pound Government investment in huge critical mineral and tech projects.

That has led to an urgent need for more housing in Western Australia – and there are not enough professionals there to meet the demand.

So the Government of Western Australia has introduced an AUS$11million (£5.8m) visa subsidy scheme in a bid to attract construction workers from Britain and Ireland as quickly as possible.

The Construction Visa Subsidy Programme (CVSP) will see those who decide to quit the UK and move to WA awarded up to £6,000 to help cover the costs of applying and relocating.

It is hoped the package, which will provide workers with the opportunity to earn higher wages and enjoy a better cost of living, will see WA plug the gaps it currently has across multiple sectors.

Recruitment efforts and promotion of the CVSP is targeting skilled workers in the following professions as a priority:

• Civil Engineer
• Structural Engineer
• Civil Engineering Draftsperson
• Plumber (General)
• Carpenter
• Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic
• Electrician
• Glazier
• Wall and Floor Tiler
• Concreter
• Floor finishers
• Painting trades workers
• Plasterers
• Cabinetmakers
• Carpenters and Joiners

The Western Australian Minister for Planning; Lands; Housing and Homelessness John Carey is visiting the UK this week to help drive interest from British workers into making the move.

He will highlight the lure of the State, where energy bills are half the UK’s, wages are higher, houses are bigger and the climate is more appealing.

Brits are being targeted for their skills and experience at a time when the cost of living crisis is having a major impact on the quality of life for workers in the UK.

Minister Carey will spread the message as he meets with construction officials and visits large projects in London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

He will also gain insights from large-scale projects in the UK to help the WA Government deliver the building and infrastructure work it needs to satisfy demand.