Aleisha Dawson, Property Journalist
First published 30 Oct 2026, 3:00am
Sam Clarke and Gretel Wilson, with five-month-old Monty, created the app Casu to give businesses faster access to workers.
An Aussie couple has quietly built the construction industry’s answer to Uber, signing up more than 10,000 workers and backing from industry heavyweights.
A predicted 50,000-worker shortfall by 2027 in Queensland prompted Brisbane parents Sam Clarke and Gretel Wilson to create the platform Casu, which connects builders with casual workers for shifts.
It comes as the Housing Industry Association warned home build times and construction costs would continue to blow out unless the industry attracted and retained more workers.
Housing Industry Association warned home build times and construction costs would continue to blow out unless the industry attracted and retained more workers.
Mr Clarke said it also meant longer waits for new homes, delayed renovations and rising costs for Queensland families.
He saw the problem first-hand while working in construction — a shortage on one job could hold up the next, putting crews under pressure and ultimately leaving families waiting.
“When a builder can’t find the workers they need, it doesn’t just affect that job.
“It delays when a family gets the keys to their new home,” Mr Clarke said.
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Workers are employed directly as casuals by the hiring business under the app Casu.
Described by the couple as an “Uber for construction” in its on-demand approach, the app Casu lets businesses post available work, set the hourly rate and requirements, and find people for as little as four hours.
“Builders aren’t always looking for another permanent hire,” Ms Wilson said.
“Often, they need an extra pair of hands quickly enough to keep the job moving.”
Described as “Uber for construction”, the app lets business post available work, set the hourly rate, and find people for as little as four hours.
Workers are employed directly as casuals by the hiring business, rather than operating as independent contractors.
“We’re seeing repeat hiring consistently; for example, one worker has completed 249 shifts for the same business over two-and-a-half years and has been offered 1,679 days of work through the platform,” she said.
Ms Wilson said Sunday evenings were often among the busiest periods as builders and subcontractors organised their crews for the week ahead.
“Businesses can rate workers after each booking and rehire people they trust.
“Casu’s internal data puts its no-show rate at 2.87 per cent,” she said.
McNab Group founder Michael McNab said Casu could provide practical support to smaller builders and subcontractors.
The business has attracted backing from McNab Group, Hutchinson Builders and KPAT, the hotel development company led by Kenneth Wagner.
McNab Group founder Michael McNab said Casu could provide practical support to smaller builders and subcontractors when projects needed additional labour.
“We know that for smaller builders and subcontractors, being a few people short can put real pressure on a job,” Mr McNab said.
“Finding extra hands quickly helps them support their existing crews and keep work moving,” Mr McNab said.
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