Trades Recruitment – Market Commentary March 2024

Welcome to the Trades Commentary for March 2024. Our specialist Trades recruiters, who are themselves fully qualified tradespeople, offer the following insights. If you seek further information or wish to explore our services, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Samantha Richter on 0413 783 157 or email [email protected]

Australia Wide Trades & Labour Hire is excited to be exhibiting at the upcoming APPEX Auspack Expo from March 12th to 15th. We invite you to drop by our booth and meet our friendly team. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect, network, and learn more about our services. We look forward to seeing you there!

March Trades Stats (1)

Industrial Electricians: We have experienced a surge in applications, particularly from domestic and commercial electricians seeking to transition. Roles offering market value rates, whether permanent or on contract, are in high demand. However, recruitment for positions involving afternoon, night, or rotating shifts presents challenges, with most candidates preferring day shift work. With candidates being selective in their career moves, employers are having to offer competitive benefits and incentives to attract and retain top talent. Flexible scheduling options and additional compensation for non-traditional shifts may help address recruitment challenges. Overall, proactive recruitment strategies are essential to meet the demand for skilled industrial electricians.

Maintenance Fitters: Our observations indicate that Maintenance Fitters within our network are more inclined to consider new opportunities when day shift options are available, especially when accompanied by higher-end market rates. This suggests that offering day shift positions and competitive compensation packages could be key strategies to attract and retain Maintenance Fitters. 

CNC Operators: The demand for CNC Machinists and Programmers is high, with clients placing a significant emphasis on candidates’ familiarity with specific types of machinery. It’s crucial for candidates to highlight their experience with various types of machinery in their applications, as clients are increasingly specific about this requirement. Rates for these positions are converging between clients and candidates, indicating a balanced negotiation landscape. However, despite the demand, application levels are still below anticipated levels, suggesting potential untapped opportunities for skilled professionals in this field.

Welders and Boilermakers: Welders continue to enjoy numerous opportunities in both permanent and casual positions, leading to a notable increase in pay rates for these roles. Consequently, many companies are facing challenges in retaining their welding staff. To combat this, offering permanent employment with slightly elevated pay rates has proven effective in retaining top talent. Additionally, providing incentives such as closer-to-home work locations and other company perks has further bolstered retention efforts.

Field Service Technicians: Rates within the Field Service role exhibit variance due to companies’ diverse structures regarding bonuses, salaries, and sales incentives. This variability reflects the flexibility of the field service market, which often necessitates tradespeople to possess multiple skills. However, a significant challenge associated with this role is the extended periods away from home, involving extensive travel within the state or across multiple states. Addressing these challenges may require companies to offer competitive compensation packages and consider strategies to mitigate the impact of prolonged travel on employees’ work-life balance.

Heavy Vehicle Mechanics: Candidate availability remains low, yet there’s a notable surge of interest from light vehicle mechanics seeking to transition into heavy vehicle roles. Many clients are addressing the skills shortage by providing training to upskill these candidates. Additionally, a considerable portion of potential candidates are actively pursuing sponsorships, with some willing to cover visa fees as an incentive to secure opportunities in the heavy vehicle industry.

 

 

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