TRADE SECRET
Your best bet to get the hours you want
TRADES offer Australians the best chance of landing full-time working hours, with data showing they have the lowest rates of part-time and casual employment.
Latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows more than 82 per cent of technicians and trades workers are in full-time employment.
It is about twice the rate of sales workers or community and personal services workers (each 41 per cent), and ahead of labourers (52 per cent), clerical and administration workers (64 per cent), professionals (75 per cent) and machinery operators and drivers (81 per cent).
Only managers are more likely to be employed full time, at 85 per cent.
Apprenticeship Employment Network executive director Gary Workman says high demand for tradespeople is a major reason for the abundance of full-time jobs.
“It’s a combination of a few things but skill shortage is definitely one,” he says. “You are highly valued once you complete your qualification and have that experience or licence.
“There are not enough skilled tradesmen and we have an ageing workforce and growing population.”
JobOutlook data reveals particularly high rates of full-time employment among electrical distribution trades workers (95 per cent), metal fitters and machinists (93 per cent), structural steel and welding trades workers (91 per cent), electricians (90 per cent), airconditioning and refrigeration mechanics and glaziers (both 89 per cent), plumbers (88 per cent), and carpenters and joiners (87 per cent).
Workman says many apprentices and trainees do not appreciate that they have such a high chance of gaining full-time work.
“From an employer’s perspective, they will take on an apprentice with that in mind – to fill a full-time job down the track – so employers see the benefit but individuals don’t necessarily look at it that way,” he says.
“It’s something we could definitely promote better.”
Technical college apprenticeship and traineeship manager Alicea Sherin says a lot of companies that hire tradespeople face an ageing workforce or gap in skills because they have not kept up their employment of apprentices and now find themselves playing catch-up.
She says this leads to higher instances of fulltime employment among tradespeople as well as strong job security.
“You will never be out of work (as a tradesperson),” she says.
“Even if the employer’s circumstances change or you need to seek employment elsewhere (for your own reasons), there are always opportunities within those areas.”