{"id":39935,"date":"2026-07-16T17:20:50","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T07:20:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fuserecruitment.com\/?p=39935"},"modified":"2026-07-16T17:31:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T07:31:32","slug":"infrastructure-skills-employers-are-prioritising-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fuserecruitment.com\/blogs\/infrastructure-skills-employers-are-prioritising-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Infrastructure Skills Employers Are Prioritising in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Australia&#8217;s infrastructure pipeline has never been larger, and the workforce to deliver it has never been tighter. Infrastructure Australia&#8217;s\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au\/reports\/2025-infrastructure-market-capacity-report\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">2025 Infrastructure Market Capacity Report<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0puts the five-year Major Public Infrastructure Pipeline at a record\u00a0$242 billion, with the industry already short 141,000 workers. In that environment, three capabilities keep rising to the top of employer priorities: project controls, digital tools, and cross-disciplinary capability.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><strong>Which infrastructure skills are Australian employers\u00a0prioritising\u00a0in 2026?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Australian infrastructure employers are\u00a0prioritising\u00a0project controls, digital delivery\u00a0skills\u00a0and cross-disciplinary capability in 2026. With budgets and timelines under pressure, the most valued professionals are those who can forecast cost and schedule accurately, work confidently with digital tools, and move between sectors as the pipeline shifts.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The priority skills in detail:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Project controls: planners, schedulers, cost engineers,\u00a0estimators\u00a0and commercial managers who keep projects on budget and on time. Infrastructure Australia found\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au\/reports\/2025-infrastructure-market-capacity-report\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">63 per cent of firms cite labour cost as a substantial threat to delivery<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, making the people who control cost and schedule risk some of the most contested hires in the market. Demand for project management professionals is projected to peak at around 59,000 in mid-2027.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Digital tools: capability in BIM and digital engineering, common data environments, project management platforms, and data analysis. The report notes the sector faces a dual challenge of filling roles in short supply while\u00a0upskilling for\u00a0the digital and net zero transition. Employers now screen for digital fluency in roles where it was once optional.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cross-disciplinary capability: professionals who can transfer between transport, energy,\u00a0water\u00a0and social infrastructure. With engineering demand stretched across new growth sectors, employers increasingly value adjacent-sector experience and the ability to apply core skills to unfamiliar asset classes.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Why is the infrastructure skills shortage getting worse?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:299,&quot;335559739&quot;:299}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The shortage is worsening because demand is growing faster than supply, and the roles in shortest supply take years to develop. Infrastructure Australia projects the current shortfall of 141,000 workers will\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au\/reports\/2025-infrastructure-market-capacity-report\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">surge to more than 300,000 by mid-2027<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, driven\u00a0largely by\u00a0privately funded renewable energy projects entering the pipeline.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Several forces are compounding the gap. Shortages for engineers,\u00a0architects\u00a0and scientists are forecast to peak at approximately 126,000 in late 2026, while shortages for\u00a0trades\u00a0workers and\u00a0labourers\u00a0peak at a similar level by mid-2027. Regional areas are hit hardest, with shortages forecast to quadruple between 2025 and 2027 as energy and transport projects compete for the same\u00a0labour\u00a0pools. Uncertainty in the energy pipeline is also prompting many firms to take a wait-and-see approach to training, relying on redeploying workers from adjacent sectors rather than growing baseline supply.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">How can employers compete for scarce engineering and\u00a0trades\u00a0talent?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:299,&quot;335559739&quot;:299}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Employers compete for scarce talent by\u00a0hiring for\u00a0transferable capability, investing in upskilling, and moving faster than the market. In a shortage, the winners broaden the candidate pool, shorten their hiring process, and give people a reason to stay.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Practical strategies that work:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hire for core capability and train the sector-specific knowledge. A cost engineer from mining or\u00a0defence\u00a0can succeed\u00a0on\u00a0a transport project.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Invest in structured upskilling. Infrastructure Australia found\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au\/reports\/2025-infrastructure-market-capacity-report\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">66 per cent of the sector invested in workforce upskilling in the past 12 months<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, rising to 85 per cent among engineers and designers.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Build digital skills internally, pairing experienced delivery staff with digitally fluent recruits.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Shorten\u00a0time\u00a0to offer. Scarce\u00a0candidates are\u00a0usually\u00a0holding\u00a0multiple offers within weeks.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Offer visible career pathways across projects, so people\u00a0join for\u00a0a career rather than a single build.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">What does the skills gap mean for project timelines?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:299,&quot;335559739&quot;:299}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The skills gap means projects will cost more, take longer, or both, unless workforce planning is treated as a delivery risk. Infrastructure Australia\u00a0identifies\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au\/reports\/2025-infrastructure-market-capacity-report\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">labour as the most critical delivery risk<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0facing the sector, with 59 per cent of firms citing\u00a0labour\u00a0and skills shortages as a substantial threat to delivery.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For employers, the practical implication is that resourcing needs to be planned alongside scope and budget, not after contract award. Projects that secure project controls and digital delivery capability early gain a compounding advantage: better forecasting reduces rework and variation, which reduces peak\u00a0labour\u00a0demand later in the build.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Frequently asked questions<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:299,&quot;335559739&quot;:299}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What are project controls in infrastructure?<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Project controls are the planning, scheduling, cost engineering,\u00a0estimating\u00a0and reporting functions that keep infrastructure projects on budget and on schedule. Demand for these professionals is projected to peak at around 59,000 in mid-2027.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Which digital skills do infrastructure employers want?<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Employers are\u00a0prioritising\u00a0BIM and digital engineering, common data environments, project management platforms, and data analysis and reporting skills across both professional and site-based roles.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How large is Australia&#8217;s infrastructure workforce shortage?<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Infrastructure Australia estimates the industry is currently short 141,000 workers, with the shortfall projected to exceed 300,000 by mid-2027.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ready to build your infrastructure hiring plan?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:299,&quot;335559739&quot;:299}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Delivering in this market takes more than advertising vacancies. It takes a clear view of which capabilities carry the most delivery risk, where transferable talent sits in adjacent sectors, and how to move quickly when the right person becomes available. At Fuse Recruitment, we partner with infrastructure employers to secure project controls, engineering, digital and site-based talent across Australia. If you are planning your resourcing for the year ahead, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fuserecruitment.com\/infrastructure-recruitment\/\">get in touch to build a hiring plan<\/a> that protects your delivery timeline.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Australia&#8217;s infrastructure pipeline has never been larger, and the workforce to deliver it has never been tighter. Infrastructure Australia&#8217;s\u00a02025 Infrastructure Market Capacity Report\u00a0puts the five-year Major Public Infrastructure Pipeline at a record\u00a0$242 billion, with the industry already short 141,000 workers. In that environment, three capabilities keep rising to the top of employer priorities: project controls,&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":39941,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","footnotes":""},"categories":[108],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39935","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-infrastructure"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fuserecruitment.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39935","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fuserecruitment.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fuserecruitment.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fuserecruitment.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fuserecruitment.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39935"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.fuserecruitment.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39935\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39943,"href":"https:\/\/www.fuserecruitment.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39935\/revisions\/39943"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fuserecruitment.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media\/39941"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fuserecruitment.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39935"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fuserecruitment.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39935"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fuserecruitment.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39935"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}