Quick answer
Approvals for new houses reached 11,040 in August 2026, up 3.3% on July and the highest level in five years, according to HIA analysis of ABS data released on 30 September 2026. House approvals for the three months to August were up 17.2% in NSW, 12.8% in Queensland and 9.2% in Victoria on a year earlier, while total dwelling approvals fell 6.1% as apartments slumped. For builders, that means more slab, frame and fit-out work heading into 2027 while trades remain scarce, so plan crews early and line up flexible labour for peaks.
New house approvals are the earliest signal of the work that will need crews on site over the next year. The August 2026 numbers, released on 30 September, show that the pipeline of detached homes is still growing even as apartments, home sales and confidence weaken. For builders who rely on carpenters, concreters, formworkers and labourers, that mix matters more than the headline.
What did the August 2026 approvals data show?
HIA Senior Economist Tom Devitt said approvals for new houses rose to 11,040 in August, up 3.3% on July and the highest level in five years. Over the three months to August, house approvals were 14.6% higher than the same quarter a year earlier.
The wider ABS release told a more mixed story. Total dwelling approvals fell 6.1% to 16,953 (seasonally adjusted) because approvals for apartments, townhouses and other non-house dwellings in the private sector dropped 21.2%. Private sector house approvals rose 3.7%. Master Builders Australia, reacting to the same data, warned that weak approvals now mean fewer homes later, and its Chief Economist Shane Garrett said he doesn't expect detached house approvals to keep rising for long.
HIA also flagged that new home sales fell for a fourth straight month in August, sitting almost 20% lower on a quarterly basis, with a rate rise adding pressure on project viability.
Which states are busiest: VIC, QLD or NSW?
All three east-coast states are approving more houses than a year ago, with NSW in front. The monthly totals jump around because of apartment approvals, so the three-month house trend is the better guide to the work coming through.
| State | House approvals, 3 months to Aug 2026 vs a year earlier (HIA) | Total dwelling approvals, Aug 2026 (ABS, seasonally adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | +17.2% | 3,896 (−17.3% on July) |
| Queensland | +12.8% | 3,327 (−22.5% on July) |
| Victoria | +9.2% | 5,163 (+8.9% on July) |
In plain terms: detached house work is building in all three states, while the apartment pipeline is softer in NSW and Queensland this month. Victoria recorded the most total dwelling approvals of the three in August.
What does this mean for the labour you'll need?
Approvals turn into slab pours, frames and lock-ups over the following months. A rising house pipeline means more demand for the trades that carry the early and middle stages of a build:
- Concreters, formworkers and steel fixers for slabs and footings.
- Carpenters for framing, roofing and fit-out.
- General labourers for site set-up, materials handling and clean-up.
- Ticketed workers such as traffic controllers, forklift and EWP operators on larger estates and medium-density jobs.
The difficulty is that housing is competing for the same people as civil and major projects. Infrastructure Australia's 2025 Infrastructure Market Capacity Report estimated the infrastructure sector was already 141,000 workers short in October 2025, with the shortfall projected to peak at more than 300,000 in mid-2027. Trades workers and labourers make up the largest group, with a projected peak shortage of 126,000 at that time. Jobs and Skills Australia's 2025 Occupation Shortage List found that about half of trade roles nationally were in shortage.
Which major projects will compete for the same workers?
Big public projects pull experienced crews away from housing, especially in civil, concrete and ticketed roles:
- Queensland: early works for the new 63,000-seat Brisbane Stadium at Victoria Park began in June 2026. It is part of the $7.1 billion Games Venues Infrastructure Program covering 17 new and upgraded venues for Brisbane 2032.
- Victoria: Suburban Rail Loop East, between Cheltenham and Box Hill, is expected to create up to 8,000 jobs during construction, with passengers due by 2035.
- Nationally: Infrastructure Australia puts the major public infrastructure pipeline at $242 billion over the five years to 2028–29.
Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn made the same link on 6 October 2026, noting that housing targets, Olympic infrastructure and major projects all depend on having enough skilled workers. Its Workforce Blueprint projects a shortage of more than 900,000 construction workers by 2035. Federal migration settings for construction trades are under debate, but any change will take time to reach site.
What should builders do now?
- Map your crew needs against your approved jobs. List the trades and tickets each stage needs for the next three to six months, and flag where two jobs will peak together.
- Lock in core trades early. Carpenters, concreters and formworkers are the roles most likely to tighten if house approvals keep flowing into starts.
- Keep a flexible layer. Use labour hire for peaks, absences and short stages rather than carrying extra permanent staff into an uncertain 2027.
- Watch costs and viability. HIA's falling new home sales and the latest rate rise mean some approved projects may be delayed. Avoid overcommitting to labour before contracts are firm.
- Check your labour hire provider is licensed. Victoria and Queensland require labour hire providers to hold a licence.
How can labour hire help with the peaks?
Labour hire lets you add workers for a pour, a frame stage or a fit-out push and release them when the stage is done, paying only for the hours worked. Dash Group is a licensed labour hire provider in Victoria and Queensland, with offices in Melbourne (which also looks after NSW and Sydney), Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Each client works with one dedicated consultant, and workers are often on site within 2–4 hours. Indicative 2026 rates start at $55–$60 per hour + GST for general labourers; see our labour hire rates guide for rates by trade.
If your approved jobs are lining up for summer and early 2027, talk to us now about labour hire in Melbourne and NSW, Brisbane or the Gold Coast.
Frequently asked questions
How many new houses were approved in August 2026?
According to HIA's analysis of ABS data released on 30 September 2026, approvals for new houses rose 3.3% in August 2026 to 11,040, the highest level in five years. Over the three months to August, house approvals were 14.6% higher than a year earlier.
Why did total dwelling approvals fall if house approvals rose?
Apartments and townhouses dragged the total down. The ABS reported total dwelling approvals fell 6.1% to 16,953 in August 2026 (seasonally adjusted), because private sector dwellings excluding houses dropped 21.2% while private sector houses rose 3.7%.
Which states are seeing the strongest growth in house approvals?
HIA's figures for the three months to August 2026, compared with the same period a year earlier, show house approvals up 17.2% in New South Wales, 12.8% in Queensland and 9.2% in Victoria.
Will there be enough tradies to build these homes?
Supply is tight. Infrastructure Australia's 2025 Market Capacity Report projects a peak shortage of 126,000 trades workers and labourers across public infrastructure in mid-2027, and Master Builders Australia's Workforce Blueprint projects a shortage of more than 900,000 construction workers by 2035. Builders should plan crews early and line up flexible labour for peaks.
Sources: HIA, "Building approvals still carrying the momentum of last year" (30 September 2026); ABS, Building Approvals, Australia, August 2026; Master Builders Australia, "Triple salvo of bad data magnifies gloom" (30 September 2026); Master Builders Australia, "Builders welcome Opposition focus on construction skills" (6 October 2026); Infrastructure Australia, 2025 Infrastructure Market Capacity Report (13 November 2025); Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025 Occupation Shortage List; Delivering 2032 (GIICA), "Victoria Park enters new era" (June 2026); Victoria's Big Build, Suburban Rail Loop East. Dash Group is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of these organisations.