Overview
Types of businesses in the construction industry range from businesses and tradespeople providing services directly to consumers, other building and construction businesses and government. Projects vary in size from large construction and infrastructure projects to smaller, domestic projects that include:
- residential and non-residential construction
- renovations and extensions
- building structure services
- installation services
- heavy and civil engineering
- land development
- site preparation
The construction industry is critical to Victoria’s economy and is built on small businesses. Victoria’s construction industry is the state’s fifth largest industry and is valued at $21.6 billion and employs about 240,000 people in 89,000 businesses.
More than $15 billion1 of construction work was carried out in Victoria between July and September 2021, growing almost 6% from the previous quarter, which was faster than the rest of Australia.
Construction industry regulators
Regulatory bodies have a responsibility to help businesses and tradespeople understand and meet their construction sector registration, licensing and renewal responsibilities. To achieve accreditation, plumbing, electrical and building practitioners in Victoria are required to hold a licence or be registered with the relevant regulator for their trade.
Guidance from regulators will make it easier for electricians, plumbers, building practitioners and group employers to understand their regulatory requirements.
- Energy Safe Victoria (ESV): Victoria’s safety regulator for electricity, gas and pipelines — an independent government agency responsible for the safe generation, supply and use of electricity, gas and pipelines. ESV also provides information on electrical licences, training and assessments.
- Environment Protection Authority (EPA): Victoria’s environmental regulator. EPA works with businesses, industry and the community to prevent and reduce the harmful effects of pollution and waste on Victorians and their environment.
- Victorian Building Authority (VBA): Victoria’s regulator for the building and plumbing industries. You can also find information on becoming a registered building practitioner, or a registered or licensed plumber.
- WorkSafe: Victoria’s workplace health and safety regulator. Worksafe is also the workplace injury insurer – its role is to reduce workplace injury insurer – its role is to reduce workplace harm and improve outcomes for injured workers.
1 Source: Master Builders Victoria
