# Competitive Intelligence Report — 2026-03-11

**Scan Period:** March 4-11, 2026  
**Focus:** Construction industry trends, labour market, competitor activity

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## Key Market Intelligence

### Labour Shortage Continues (HIA Trades Report)
- **Source:** Property Buzz, March 4 2026
- **Finding:** Skilled labour shortages continue despite improved overseas labour access
- **RateRight Angle:** Perfect timing for our marketplace — contractors desperate for workers

### "Too Many Suits, Not Enough Tradies"
- **Source:** MacroBusiness, March 2026
- **Finding:** Share of tradies in construction fell sharply over past decade
- **Implication:** Labour shortage structural, not cyclical — ongoing opportunity

### Women in Construction Surging
- **Source:** ABC News, Examiner, Border Mail (March 8 2026)
- **Finding:** Women enrolling in NSW construction trades courses **more than doubled** in 5 years (to 2025)
- **Timing:** Women in Construction Week (March 1-7) + International Women's Day (March 8)
- **RateRight Opportunity:** Target female tradies as underrepresented worker segment

### Regulatory Headwinds
- **Source:** Mortgage Professional Australia
- **Finding:** HIA warns workplace laws constraining housing supply capacity
- **Lodged submissions:** Closing Loopholes Review + NES Inquiry
- **RateRight Angle:** Position as compliant, flexible alternative to traditional labour hire

### Construction Cost Squeeze
- **Source:** SMH / Brisbane Times
- **Finding:** Sharp increase in construction costs, materials and labour + rising interest rates making towers uneconomic
- **Impact:** Future projects "thin on the ground" beyond 2030
- **RateRight Angle:** Cost savings message ($50 vs $4000+) more urgent than ever

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## Competitor Activity

| Competitor | News | Notes |
|------------|------|-------|
| **hipages** | No news this week | Previous: H1 FY26 earnings showed subscriber decline, lowered guidance |
| **Sidekicker** | No news this week | Part of SEEK, construction category exists but no updates |
| **Airtasker** | No news this week | Previous: HY26 showed widening losses ($16.5M), cash runway concerns |
| **Labour hire** | General industry coverage | Zenith scandal ($104M tax debt) still relevant |

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## Sales Angles From This Week

1. **Labour Crisis:** "66% of builders can't find trades. The ones using agencies pay thousands. We charge $50."

2. **Cost Pressure:** "Construction costs up, margins squeezed. Switch from 30% agency markup to $50 flat fee."

3. **Diversity Play:** "Women in trades doubled in 5 years. Access this growing talent pool on RateRight."

4. **Compliance:** "With workplace laws tightening, direct hiring through RateRight keeps you in control."

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## Recommended Actions

- Monitor HIA submissions outcome (Closing Loopholes Review)
- Consider women-in-trades messaging for worker acquisition
- Emphasize cost savings more strongly (construction cost squeeze context)
- Track any hipages/Airtasker marketing pushes (quiet period suggests opportunity)

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*Report generated: 2026-03-11*