We are considering a move from UK to Gibralter. Does anyone know what the work situation is over there? In particular would love to hear from any UK plumbers who have emigrated over there? What are your experiences on finding work?

As far as I know, Gibraltar tends to use plumbers/manual workers from mainland Spain, which has high unemployment (far worse than the UK, with little social security benefits - none for those who havent paid into their system). So not something I'd recommend in the current economic climate

Jo xxx

I see from other threads that the original poster was first looking to move to Australia, then New Zealand and now Spain/Gib.

It will be much harder for her husband to find work in Spain or Gib, not just the obvious language barrier, but not knowing the rules, regulations, culture and of course the fact that he will be up against possibly thousands of unemployed folk already there and to some degree established.

Unless she has a large financial net to fall back on and get her back home when things get desperate I'd say forget the move.

As another member said, "If you want to make a small fortune in Spain, bring a large fortune to start with"

This is the reality of 2011 I'm sad to say.

Thanks for the replies. We are in limbo at the moment..

Our first option was Australia but as my husband does not have his past 12 months self employed accounts (as we were having a year out travelling and working in Australia but not working as a plumber) he cant apply to emigrate as they require this as part of his skills assessment. It would mean us waiting a further 12 months for him to get a solid 12 month working accounts under his belt and in the current climate here in the UK that is easier said that done as work is very thin on the ground at the moment. He could get somebody to sponsor him but an employer wouldn’t sponsor him if he hasn’t got his skills assessed first and he cant do that without his previous 12 months accounts – so we have hit a brick wall with that one!! Its so frustrating even though he has 10 years time served experience and all his accounts right up until then. He even has proof of him working in Australia albeit it wasn’t related to his occupation as a plumber, it shows that he wasn’t just bumming around.

Our second option was New Zealand. Seems a little bit straightforward and feasible to us as he doesn’t have to supply his previous 12 months accounts, just proof of his plumbing qualifications and then apply to become NZ registered licensed plumber and then apply for jobs or even fly over for a few weeks in the hope of lining up some interviews and possibly a job offer then complete the rest of registration (exam etc) once he is over there. We have been doing some research into plumbing jobs in NZ and the job market isn’t exactly looking flushed with jobs. We have friends over there who have struggled to find work. Maybe it would be different for us with my other half having a trade? Who knows, it’s a gamble I suppose.

We did think of Spain/Gib as there isn’t as much red tape as NZ and Australia but we completely agree the work situation there isn’t exactly rosy. So it does look like NZ may be the way forward for us.

NZ might well be easier, you're right

if you think work is thin on the ground in the UK it is SO much worse here - & although the red tape to come & live here is pretty much non-existent, his qualifications might not be recognised here in any case - & the red tape to get them recognised can be horrendous - & of course in Spanish

that's not to say he might not get 'odd jobs', but to do installations I believe he would need to have his quals accredited or get a Spanish plumber to sign off on the job - I know for sure that's true for gas & electricity - I think it's the same for plumbing

So really NZ does look like the way forward - no language barrier and once he has his NZ plumbing licencing in hand that will make life easier, plus the wages are better, its just a case of falling lucky of getting a job offer with a good supportive company. Thanks for your reply.