2025 National Timber Frame & Truss Manufacturing Census – Key Findings

 

The 2025 National Timber Frame & Truss Manufacturing Census provides a valuable snapshot of the state of Australia’s frame and truss manufacturing sector. This year’s results highlight important trends in workforce, market activity, business confidence, and operational challenges—offering a roadmap for where the industry is heading and where support is most needed.

Participation

This census saw around 100 businesses participate, roughly half the number from the previous survey. While fewer companies engaged overall, those who did were more likely to complete the full census—a sign of strong commitment among active members. Victoria and New South Wales continued to dominate participation, reflecting their position as the country’s major manufacturing hubs.

Workforce Insights

Factory operations remain the heart of the industry, representing just over half of total employment. Workforce distribution remains male-dominated in most areas except office roles, where gender balance is closer to equal.

The age profile remains centred on workers aged 21–45, with limited representation from younger and older cohorts—highlighting continued workforce renewal challenges.
Notably, 72% of manufacturers report difficulty recruiting and replacing employees, with key shortages in production roles and specialist technical positions.

Market Mix Shifts

Detached housing remains the backbone of the sector, accounting for 80–90% of activity for most manufacturers. However, compared with 2022, this year’s results show a slight shift toward townhouses and renovations, reflecting broader changes in Australia’s housing landscape.
Townhouse activity is particularly strong in Victoria and South Australia, where medium-density design continues to grow.

Products & Services

Roof trusses and wall frames remain near-universal product offerings, with three-quarters of manufacturers also producing floor trusses. Interest in cassette floors and panelised walls is growing, even if current adoption remains low—more than half of respondents say they are considering adopting at least one of these systems.
Installation services are offered by around 10% of manufacturers, a modest increase from the 2022 census.

Interest in expanding into mid-rise construction (3–6 storey timber buildings) and off-site prefabrication is mixed: one-third are actively exploring opportunities, one-third are unsure, and one-third have no plans to diversify. Compared with 2022, enthusiasm for mid-rise has increased.

Machinery Investment

Machinery investment plans vary widely across the sector. Between 40–50% of businesses plan to invest in cutting equipment, frames, or handling solutions. Pressing machinery also shows steady interest, though planned investment in delivery trucks is comparatively low.

A significant 23% of manufacturers have no machinery investment planned, while only a small minority are planning large-scale multi-category investment—reflecting cautious sentiment in a cooling market.

Builder Default Risk

Financial pressure continues to ripple through the industry. Around 40% of manufacturers report being directly impacted by a builder default, and a similar proportion continue to trade with credit. This ongoing volatility underscores the need for greater protections and risk-management support for small and medium-sized manufacturers.

Waste & Sustainability

Most manufacturers generate 11–30 m³ of waste per month, though smaller operations report less and extra-large plants significantly more. Waste volumes vary considerably by state, with Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia reporting the lowest levels.

Nearly half of all manufacturers use 100% treated timber, while 30% treat between 21–30% of their timber. H2 remains the dominant preservative treatment across the country, followed by H2F and H3.

Conclusion

The 2025 Census reveals an industry that is resilient, evolving, and continuing to professionalise. Manufacturers are navigating a softer housing market, persistent workforce shortages, and ongoing financial instability in the building sector. At the same time, interest in new technologies, diversification opportunities, and mid-rise timber construction shows promising pathways for future growth.

FTMA will continue advocating strongly on behalf of our members—ensuring government, regulators and policymakers recognise the essential role of timber frame and truss manufacturers in Australia’s construction supply chain.

A full copy of the 2025 National Timber Frame & Truss Manufacturing Census findings, including average Timber Systems Designer wages; a version excluding wage data will then be shared with the wider membership in the following weeks.