Where have all the young tradies gone?

With government support, plenty of apprenticeships and ample jobs on offer you might imagine that Australian school leavers would be flocking to join the building industry. There has never been a better time to be a carpenter, bricklayer, plasterer, concreter, plumber or electrician in Australia. Yet despite the best efforts of state and federal governments, Master Builders Australia and other peak bodies, fewer young people thn ever are choosing a well-paid career in construction. The latest estimates suggest that Australia currently has a shortfall of almost 200,000 tradies, a situation which expected to blow-out to 267,000 unfilled places by 2035.

[1] This gap in the labour market is coupled with a shrinking number of apprenticeship commencements (41,520) across Australia, which declined by 11.8% in the 12 months to March 2023. Industry leaders are concerned that unless these apprenticeship figures can be turned around, Australia will be unable to meet its ambitious housing targets, which are already starting to look nrealistic.

Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn says the data paints a concerning picture for Australia’s ability to tackle the housing crisis. “To bring Australia out of the housing crisis we need to drastically increase the supply of housing, and we can’t do that while we’re simultaneously suffering through a labour shortage,” she said.

[2] “Low apprentice numbers reflect a shortage of skilled workers across all trades, and until we’re able to address the challenges facing the future of the workforce, we won’t be able to increase building activity.” A new report by Build Skills Australia, a jobs and skills council established by the Albanese government, warns that on current numbers Australia is unlikely to meet the target of 1.2 million new homes by 2029. Master Builders Australia is therefore calling on the federal government to take urgent action to tackle the skills shortage in the building industry or risk a significant drop in new home commencements. “We urgently need governments to look at solutions to increase the number of tradies, increase the number of apprentices, and help Australian builders increase supply so we can come out the other side of this housing crisis,” said Ms Wawn.

[3] How construction stacks up With so much public scrutiny of university tuition fees and the employment challenges facing recent graduates, it’s surprising that more young people are not tempted to take up a career in building. Research by the Australia Industry (Ai) Group shows that young tradies are far happier than their university counterparts are earning more than graduates by the age of 25.

[4] Third-year apprentice Braidan Quinlan abandoned a university degree to study a trade and couldn’t be happier with his career choice. "The skills I've developed, both from trade school and on-the-job, have been phenomenal," he said.

[5] Although a teaching salary woul've been a little higher than his apprentice wages, Mr Quinlan has his eyes set on the big picture. "Long-term, I feel there so many more avenues to potentially make more money [as a trade]," he said. "You can start your own business or jump over to the commercial sector. There's just more opportunity to make a better living, and that's part of why I moved away from [studying to be a teacher]."

The pathways to becoming a qualified tradie in Australia are very well-defined and accessible. In the first instance, candidates should speak to their school careers advisor or contact ducational NSW. Industry bodies such Master Builders Australia and MEGT can also provide useful information about training, apprenticeships and work experience. Young people who have dropped out of mainstream education should contact Youth Off The Streets, a not-for-profit organisation which helps young people experiencing homelessness, addiction and other challenges. Year 9-12 students can access tailored learning programs at six accredited high schools across NSW, plus receive any counselling, psychological and wellbeing services that they may need. Young Sydney woman Lily admits she had a patchy academic record until she enrolled at Youth Off The Streets’ Chapel School in Merrylands West. “It got to the point where I didn’t think I’d finish Year 9 – let alone high school,” she said.

[6] Thanks to the support of her teachers and mentors Lily was able to graduate from high school and enrol at TAFE NSW where she is now studying for a Certificate IV in Project Management practice. “You really only need one person to take a chance on you – the rest is up to you,” she said.

Sources:

[1] Sydney Morning Herald
[2] Master Builders Australia
[3] Master Builders Australia
[4] ABC
[5] ABC
[6] Youth Off The Streets