Without a doubt, the years 2019–2022 have brought us some of the most difficult challenges our age has ever encountered. The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed the face of this country, and the consequences will be felt for a long time.
From a Different Place
The building business is a microcosm of Australia’s migrant population. If you talk to first-generation immigrants, you’ll find that many of them went into construction as soon as they arrived, regardless of their previous trade. From the Chinese of the gold rush era to postwar Eastern Europe, the Southern European wave of the late 1950s to the Lebanese and Turks of the 1960s. Migrants developed this magnificent country. Literally.
A Workforce Wasteland
That all changed on March 20, 2020, when our international borders were closed for the first time in human history. The surge of manpower was quickly depleted. Construction projects slowed due to other COVID-related restrictions such as lockdowns, quarantining, and foreign trade barriers, therefore the impact wasn’t immediately obvious.
However, things have reopened, never to close again. Regardless of the weather, construction projects are moving forward to make up for a lost time. Except that the personnel required to fill those positions will not be available in large numbers for a long time. Years, perhaps.
The shortage of employees is so severe that NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has told parliament that “Australia requires a massive influx of two million migrants.” We don’t know what percentage of migrants are turned down, but if two million new Australians are needed, 10 times as many people would have to apply. Courting and screening tens of millions of applications is a massive task that will take years to complete for any employer.
There is no better time than now
What does this imply for you? It signifies that employers are interested in you and want you badly. You might walk into a construction job interview today and start tomorrow if you’re experienced, ticketed, and hungry. This is unheard of! Never before have employees been in such high demand. Even if you’re unskilled, unticketed, and hungry, you’re in a significantly better position than you’ve ever been – or ever will be. Great firms hire people first and foremost for their attitude, then for their talents, and finally for their tickets. It’s the perfect moment to shake things up and try your hand at construction.
Benefits of a Construction Career
It’s one of our most reliable industries.
Construction is inextricably linked to Australia’s economic development. It, like any other industry, experiences downturns, but because our budgetary health depends on getting things constructed, the government will always support it. Construction also employs 9% of Australia’s workforce, a figure so big that downturns in the industry influence all other industries, prompting the government to safeguard its stability.
Pay is excellent.
Even the lowest-paid labourer earns more than their counterparts in other industries. There is some variation in hourly rates, so do your research, but the pay is significantly greater in general. When you combine that with longer work hours and higher overtime rates, you’re looking at a fatter pocketbook at the end of the week.
Excellent Career Prospects
Construction [building], demolition [dismantling], and remediation [fixing] are all included in the phrase “construction industry.” There are a variety of disciplines within those industries that might appeal to you:
- Excavator, dozer, grader, and dump truck operator
- Hook trucks, crane trucks, flatbeds, and tippers require truck drivers.
- Carpenter, plumber, electrician, plasterer, concreter, bricklayer, fabricator, glazier, landscaper, painter, roofer, steel fixer, HVAC, scaffolder, crane operator/rigger/dogman, fabricator, glazier, landscaper, painter, roofer, steel fixer, HVAC, scaffolder
- Labourers with specialised skills
- Labourers in general
- Hands in the air
- Supervisor
- Managers
The Great Outdoors
We weren’t built to spend 8+ hours a day indoors breathing recirculated air. Working outside is beneficial not just to the mind but also to the body.
What you see is exactly what you get.
Construction, unlike other occupations, provides a real sense of accomplishment after each day, week, or project. Buildings are created or demolished, roads are constructed, plants are manufactured/dismantled, and gardens are manicured as you watch.
Gr8 M8’s
The Australian construction industry, which arose from the close bonds commonly found among miners and soldiers, maintains a strong focus on mateship to this day. There’s a sense of collaboration here that you won’t find anywhere else.
First and foremost, there is safety.
Every year, there is a culture of increased safety requirements. This implies that companies, organisations, and boards are working hard to ensure that you and your coworkers return home safely at the end of the day.
Don’t know where to start?
We at Casuals on the move supply Labour Hire Services to a wide variety of different customers in Sydney. With years of combined industry experience our objective is to deliver high quality, accredited and flexible on demand trade services to our customers when they need it most, whilst supporting our workforce with excellent management and operational systems to streamline our service on site between both our customers and our employees.
Contact our team here or reach out to us directly at info@casualsonthemove.com.au we can help you find your next dream role!
Are you an employer or business owner looking for employees to work on contract, part-time or casual basis? Get in touch with us here or reach out to us directly at info@casualsonthemove.com.au we can help you streamline your hiring process and find the right fit for the role.
