Construction Workers
 

Hi all,

Wondering what the British WA construction workers are feeling right now, considering the downturn in the property market around the world and in particular Britain & Oz? Are you surprised about the fact that skilled trades are still on the jobs in demand list? Or is there still plenty to go around, unlikely I would think particularly in WA any way? Having said that with the amount of people still migrating there they have to live somewhere!

Are you keeping busy? Or starting to see the gaps between jobs lengthening?
It is quite bad here (UK) now as you probably know already from old buddies etc etc. From having plenty of jobs to choose from and new projects starting every day/week to many of these being put on hold and shelved.
And having watched it from afar it seems that Oz is heading this way too!? I know that maybe a million miles from the truth but what is your opinion?

With respect to anyone who does not work within the construction industry and prepping themselves to get there fingers tapping on the keyboard this thread is directed only to those working within the skilled trades or those who are looking for work within the skilled trades.

Your thoughts would be of interest to all within the Industry.

Re: Construction Workers
 

Do you think I need to simplify the questions? Or is this debate too fresh & sore?

C'mon you brickies, chippys, sparkys & plasterers!! Whats your views?

Re: Construction Workers
 

Did you go to charm school:lol:

Anyway, not in WA however the same posts are coming out of WA, tradies not getting work, rates being cut etc, search on the brickies threads, they usually give the views of whats actually going on in OZ:eek:, and currently its not good.

I would imagine any tradies in OZ, are simply amazed tradesmen are still on the skills wanted immigration list. Because there are plenty of tradies already here struggling to get work, aussies and immigrants. The government here is way out of touch with reality as usual and even the master builders say up to 80% of construction jobs will go this year.

Gov has thrown a bit of money at schools, 200,000 grand each for renovations, one thing that will create a bit of work, but you need special accreditation on top of all the usual licences etc to tender those jobs, hardly something the new immigrant will have.

Re: Construction Workers
 

the new migrant tradies will only get a provisional license this means apprentice wages only and harder to get the jobs( even though they have the skills) because they are only classed as apprentice level with provisonal license, this is the bit the government wants to get their head round might not be so many tradies having to go back to uk to survive, i have no problem with starting at the bottom but at least give them a chance to get to the bloody top by being employed long enough to gain 12 months experience and the $3,000 to do the course they say is needd to get back your full license
lesley x

Re: Construction Workers
 

My work has just indirectly put a few hundred out of work in QLD.

Re: Construction Workers
 

More likely as you were asking the question overnight people haven't been online to respond ;)

Re: Construction Workers
 

Sorry about that, my impatience got the better of me.

Re: Construction Workers
 

80% is massive, that is shocking!!

Re: Construction Workers
 

good god
i was hoping to go out to perth in march to find a job and get a "457".is it really that bad?surely they need to build more houses for a growing population?
i am a chippy by the way
jon:blink:

Re: Construction Workers
 

Im a spark heading for sydney later his year, theres loads of jobs advertised on seek au. Probably depends where youre heading but its not all doom and gloom.

Re: Construction Workers
 

thanx for that dude
i am gonna go over and try my best. fingers crossed:blink:

Re: Construction Workers
 

Hi, i'm a tradesman in Lincolnshire, uk.
Our site has gone from 20+ men to 4. all the time i have worked on this site we have never had more than 2 houses for sale, we now have 12.
We as a building firm have just (jan 09) won the NHBC supreme awards presented in London. we came 1st out of 18,000 small to medium builders in the uk. Cracking night out!
Our hours have now been cut down by an hour a day, So me and my pal from work, another multi skilled tradesman have recently started our own private work,we are really busy! finished a garage conversion last week, started a new double garage this monday. I think if you look, the work is there.....i might even start advertising.:D
were off to Nsw in August before the visa expires. I'm not worried about work over there, it can't be as bad as the problems that are happening on the sites over here.
Let the moaning begin...........

Re: Construction Workers
 

yeh
i know what you mean. as a self employed joiner over here i dont really strugle for work without advertising,but i dont want to stay here(being a white english man) i feel this country is going backwards.let anybody in and give them a house and advice on how to screw the system.:curse:i also do not think i would strugle over in oz, but i need to secure a job with a firm willing to sponser me as i do not wnt to wait for a permenant resident visa.
i will go over and try to do this,hopefully i can do this in the 3 month my eta visa allows me to.
good luck in nsw
i going w.a:D

Re: Construction Workers
 

August 2009!!!!
The masked crusader arrives!!! its Bu1lder man!!!!! thankyou Bu1lder man for coming to save all us poor little brickies in oz and show us where we have all been going wrong!!!!! thankyou Bu1lder man what would we all do without you!!!! can we please......... polish your medals!!!!! Dream on.............

Re: Construction Workers
 

If i were you i would try to avoid the 457 route, you are tied to what work you can do and specific employers that sponsor you. Many use and abuse the hold they have over you and really take the piss, even worse though if all goes tits up you have 28 days to find a new sponsor or leave the country. The 457 visa is probably the worst one you can get. It may take longer but go the skilled trade route if possible

John

Re: Construction Workers
 

thanks john
but i think i will give it a go.they cant all be tossers who use ya.and to be honest if it gets me over there i am sure gonna try my best to stick it out.i suppose i will just have to carefull who i take a job with.(you dont know of anybody over there do ya?)looking for a carpenter with multi skills.
and have you seen that last post?looks like somebody is a bit pissed off with somebodys comments eh?
bes regards jon:thumbsup:

Re: Construction Workers
 

WTF???? get a life .................in fact get a job, obviously jelous.

Re: Construction Workers
 

get a life? your in skegness telling us how good you are, i'm in australia doing it. get off your ass and get out here if your so good. jealous? you can't even spell it!!!!!! what a whalley!!!!!!

Re: Construction Workers
 

Easy tigers!! Shall we try and get back on the topic!?

Re: Construction Workers
 

All the anecdotes on this site and all the information I hear informally is that work for tradies is drying up. The guys who have subbed for the same companies for years may get a little bit of protection, but everyone else is chasing less and less work.

Any tradie who comes out from the UK on a ETA on the 'hope' of picking up a sponsored job is kidding themselves - they would be better putting their money into lottery tickets.

Re: Construction Workers
 

.....olo. Sorry whingers, aint got time to argue, got money to earn......lol

Re: Construction Workers
 

hoofie
talk about anecdotes!"better putting your money into lottery tickets"well a couple of joiners i know in perth are doing fine.quite busy actually.so thanks for your coments.a simple explanation of what you have heard would have done,without the sarcasam!!!!!

Re: Construction Workers
 

My Nephew is a brickie in Perth.Born and bred Aussie.Hasn't had any work for 6 weeks and still looking.

Re: Construction Workers
 

You must have a great view of the economic situation in Australia from Manchester. Two joiners in Perth do not exactly confirm the situation all over Oz. If you want to take the piss fine, but my comments were based on chats with two building contractors and a builder of high-end houses yesterday.

Re: Construction Workers
 

There are two ads in the Western Australian Newspaper today for Bricklayers,
One for a bricklaying team with experience, and the second for Bricklayer with ABN and Car, wages $230 a day

Make of that what you will....

Re: Construction Workers
 

Hi

For what it's worth we have been in perth for two weeks and my OH has been offered two plumbing jobs the work is there if you look hard enough he went through the phone book and phoned every plumbing firm in the area and like i say got offered jobs with two, it's not all doom and gloom!!!

Sue

Re: Construction Workers
 

As previous posts have said you will find work if you know where to look, it may not be with the big boys or fantastic money but if your willing to give a go good luck to you.

Bitching and moaning does not help anybody life is to short.

Good luck to you all which ever path you chose.

Re: Construction Workers
 

True you might find work but if it's not the work you were hoping to do or trained for ,it can be soul destroying.

When you relocate to a new country it's an emotional roller coaster.Situation's which you may normally cope with on your own turf can become major hurdles when your in a unfamiliar environment.
In my particular case I came here in 89 there was no building work,I couldn't get a job for the life of me.I worked as a labourer in a factory for less than a third of what I used to earn.Over a period of 7 years I worked my way through 3 or 4 menial jobs.I never worked on my tools as a carpenter.I moved to Melbourne, where I've lived for last 13 years,working as a carpenter.I'm busy and earning very good money and in the fortunate position of being able to turn work down . I have a network of contacts who know my work.Building is slowing up and work becoming harder to get. An Aussie or people like myself will get first dibs over someone just off the boat.That's nothing new,it's the world over.I've done the hard yards to get where I am.Just be aware that the grass is not fluro green over here.
People who have made the decision to move will do so regardless of any advice given.Just be prepared for a possible bumpy ride.
Hope all your dreams come true