Are You Overpaying for Labour? How Walling Systems Reduce Dependence on Skilled Trades

Are you noticing labour costs creeping up on every job? If yes, you’re not alone. Between rising wages, trade shortages, and unpredictable scheduling delays, managing skilled labour is becoming one of the biggest budget risks in construction. The time it takes to coordinate different subcontractors, the gaps between trade availability, and the cost of keeping your site running all add up-fast.

That’s where structural walling systems come in. Unlike traditional blockwork, these prefabricated systems are designed to install quickly with fewer hands on deck. At Murs Projects, we help builders cut down on skilled trade reliance by supplying and installing modular walling systems that keep your timeline tight and your labour costs lean.

Construction Labour Costs Are Rising, Here’s Why That Matters

Across Australia, labour shortages are placing real pressure on construction budgets. The cost of skilled trades has gone up, and the availability of qualified workers has gone down. This combination is making it harder and more expensive for builders to deliver projects on time and within budget.

Below, we break down why this shift matters for your next build.

Skilled Trades are Harder to Find in 2025

There’s a growing gap between demand for trades and the number of experienced workers available. Whether you need blocklayers, waterproofers, or formwork teams, it’s taking longer to secure the right crew. That delay can put your entire project behind before the first wall goes up.

Why Wage Pressure Affects your Bottom Line?

As demand rises and supply falls, wages climb. In metro and regional areas alike, contractors are paying more per hour just to lock in trades. These increases aren’t always predictable, and they quickly cut into your profit margin especially on jobs with tight timeframes or multiple handovers.

Scheduling Trades Adds Project Risk

Even if you secure the right people, getting them on-site at the right time is another challenge. Delays with one trade can throw off your entire schedule, especially if your walling system requires follow-on trades like renderers or waterproofers. The more hands involved, the higher the risk of missed deadlines.

Traditional Wall Construction Needs More Trades, More Time, More Budget

Traditional blockwork might seem straightforward in a construction plan, but it becomes complex once you're on-site. These systems require multiple skilled trades across different phases, and any one of them can become a scheduling bottleneck. More hands mean more coordination, more room for error, and more budget spent managing it all. This is why traditional blockwork walls delay your project compared to streamlined structural walling systems.

Let’s break it down:

Blockwork Requires Multiple Subcontractors

You’ll need blocklayers for installation, waterproofers for external protection, and often renderers for finishing. If any of them are unavailable or don’t show up when scheduled, the entire process stalls. With ongoing trade shortages in Australia, this scenario is becoming more common.

Master Builders Australia reports we need 130,000 extra workers to meet demand by 2029.

More Trades Increase Supervision and Safety Complexity

Coordinating multiple crews on one site adds pressure to your foreman or site manager. There's a higher risk of miscommunication, duplicated effort, and even on-site accidents. More people also means more equipment, more material handling, and more WHS compliance overhead.

Cost Overruns from Poor Trade Alignment

When trades aren't perfectly aligned, the site slows down and delays cost money. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), construction output costs rose 2.2% this year, largely due to rising labour expenses. Every missed deadline or rescheduled crew adds to your final bill.

Structural Walling Systems Simplify Labour and Cut Costs

Structural walling systems are designed to reduce labour pressure on-site. By using prefabricated, modular panels, they eliminate the need for multiple trade layers and speed up the entire installation process. These are just some of the benefits of structural walling systems, especially for projects trying to stay on time and on budget.

Below is how these systems directly solve the labour problem:

Modular Design Speeds up Installation

Walling systems like Dincel and AFS Rediwall arrive on-site ready to install. There’s no mortar mixing, no staging of blocks, and no curing downtime. Panels are locked in quickly, often covering entire walls in a matter of hours. This means one team can do the job faster with no need to wait for other trades to finish prep work.

Fewer Trades, Less Coordination Stress

Because structural walling systems are waterproof and load-bearing, they reduce or eliminate the need for follow-on trades like renderers and waterproofers. This cuts down on coordination overhead and minimises scheduling gaps. Your site manager deals with fewer moving parts and fewer chances for delay.

Lower Labour Costs, Same Structural Quality

With less reliance on high-cost blocklayers and other skilled trades, total labour expenses come down. According to the ABS, labour-driven cost increases are among the top contributors to rising construction prices. Using modular systems avoids this pressure while still meeting BCA standards and engineering requirements.

Our Projects: Faster Builds with Fewer Trades

At Murs Projects, we’ve delivered a wide range of structural walling projects across NSW using systems like Dincel, AFS Rediwall, Ritek, etc. These installations consistently reduce the number of trades needed on-site and speed up wall completion without compromising quality.

From duplexes and basements to commercial builds and factory storage walls, our wall installation services have proven that prefab walling systems effectively solve real labour challenges on site.

Partner with Murs Projects for Labour-Efficient Wall Installation.

When labour costs are rising and skilled trades are harder to find, the smartest move is to simplify your walling process. We are the top structural wall installers to help you build faster and more efficiently by supplying and installing proven wall systems that reduce on-site labour dependency.

Whether you’re developing a duplex, managing a basement fit-out, or coordinating a complex build, our team is trained to get the job done with fewer trades and fewer delays. We work across NSW, QLD, and VIC bringing experienced crews and modular walling solutions to builders who want better results without the scheduling stress.

Ready to save time, cut labour costs, and keep your project moving? Let’s talk. Give ua a call at 0420 203 076.