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Construction Recruitment in Queensland: Who’s Going to Build the Pipeline?
- Louise Pope
- 18 hours ago
- 2 min read
Queensland’s project pipeline is accelerating—transport links, social infrastructure, renewables, and mixed-use precincts are all moving at once. Budgets are approved and scopes are expanding. But there’s one constraint every project leader is now facing: finding enough commercial and project delivery talent to actually deliver it.
While trades shortages make the headlines, the pressure point that derails schedules and inflates costs is often white-collar delivery—Commercial Managers, Contract Administrators, Project Managers, Project Engineers and client-side advisors. When these roles sit vacant or churn mid-project, procurement slows, claims escalate and risk multiplies.
Demand is rising faster than hiring capacity
Multiple contractors are now chasing the same shortlists, salaries are edging up, and mid-level professionals are fielding competing offers within days. Roles that once took three weeks to fill can sit open for months due to internal bottlenecks—especially when the requisition only goes live after the pain is already felt on site.
The hidden delivery risk
Under-resourced commercial and PMO functions don’t just create HR headaches; they create delivery risk:
Procurement friction and late packages
Claims escalation and scope creep
Inaccurate reporting that masks problems until they’re expensive
Strain on contractor relationships and reputational damage with principals
Put simply, the war for talent has become a core project risk—and it’s avoidable with earlier action.
What high-performing teams do differently
Leading Queensland employers are shifting how they hire:
Lock in critical roles ahead of peak phases. CA/Commercial depth scales with the program—not after the pinch.
Recruit for potential, not just pedigree. High-ceiling assistants are coached up early to add capacity.
Open to relocation. NSW and VIC professionals will move for lifestyle + long-run work if the process is clear and fast.
Partner exclusively with a specialist. One accountable search partner cuts noise and shortens decision cycles.
Set SLAs for hiring. Two decisive interviews and fast offers win passive candidates who weren’t “looking.”
How Aequalis solves the construction recruitment challenge in Queensland
Aequalis Consulting is a search-led recruitment partner with 21+ years in Infrastructure & Construction and Property & Development. We map the hidden market, engage senior passive talent, and align shortlists to your phase-by-phase delivery plan—not generic job specs.
Our current placements include:
Commercial Managers and Senior CAs for tier-one and mid-tier contractors
Project Managers and Project Engineers (contractor and client-side)
Cost/Contracts/Project Controls professionals building PMO depth
“You don’t need 50 CVs. You need the one who’ll deliver.”
Construction recruitment in Queensland—practical next steps
Run a delivery-risk audit on CA/Commercial/PM/PE capacity over the next 6–12 months.
Pre-brief a specialist partner on timing, budgets and scope so shortlists can move when you do.
Build a relocation-ready bench now—before late-year competition spikes.
Tighten decision cycles (two-step interviews; 48-hour feedback) to secure passive candidates.
The projects are greenlit—but people deliver them. If you want certainty on time, cost and quality, start with the team who can deliver it.
Contact Aequalis Consulting for a 30-minute consultation to secure the commercial and project talent your program needs.