Bricklayers in demand in Australia!

Bricklayers in demand!

Who would have thought such a simple question about someone in the UK, who has a trade as a bricklayer, wanting to move to Australia would prompt so much interest and so much information. The subject of Australia appears on a regular basis on the Expat Forum and this particular thread is dominated by talk of how much Australian bricklayers earn and whereabouts the work is.

The construction market in Australia

Despite these troubled times, caused by the worldwide economic slowdown, it would appear that Australia is still fairly buoyant in the area of construction and there is still a demand for bricklayers. Interestingly there seem to be a number of UK bricklayers and their families looking to move to Australia, something which would appear to confirm a widely held opinion that UK bricklayers are amongst the best in the world?

Whether this demand for bricklayers will remain as buoyant the longer the worldwide recession continues remains to be seen but there would appear to be more than enough work in the Australian construction industry at the moment.

Wages for bricklayers

This particular subject has prompted a number of comments, suggestions and figures which need to be broken down to be understood. In essence a bricklayer in Australia would look to earn a minimum of A$3,000 per month after tax although there is a suggestion that this could rise as high as A$9,000 for someone who works for themselves.

While there are obvious benefits to working for yourself, a number of posters have made the sensible suggestion that those new to the country and able to work as a bricklayer would benefit from “learning the Australian way” before attempting to branch out themselves. While the money available for those working for themselves is substantially more than for those employed by a company, there are risks to “being your own boss”.

Qualifications

A number of posters have questioned what formal qualifications are needed to work in the Australian construction industry and indeed to gain entry to Australia. While many bricklayers who have contributed to the thread have significant experience there are some who have no formal qualifications. However, it would appear that the Australian system allows an assessment of a worker’s potential which could easily avoid the problem of no formal qualifications.

While there are a few details about how the visa system works and how the assessment may be carried out, one poster has suggested employing an agent to ensure that your work assessment is successful and you’re able to earn an income as soon as possible.

Is the grass is always greener?

Australia is a country which has attracted a significant number of expats from the UK and continues to do so, on an ongoing basis. There are very few criticisms of the Australian way of life and the cost of living “down under”. While some of the posters have understandable concerns about “upping sticks” and moving to the other side of the world it would appear that the benefits may well outweigh the downside for those who do their homework and know what they want to do.

Conclusion

The construction industry has always been a vital element of the Australian economy and while it will be suffering due to the economic downturn around the world it would appear that bricklayers, or quality bricklayers, are in short supply in some areas of the country. There is a significant difference between the minimum wage and those working for themselves but the main consideration for anyone looking at these two options is security and a detailed knowledge of the market.

Related posts:

1. Teaching in Australia
2. Requalifying as a solicitor in Australia
3. Is Australia as prosperous as many people would have you believe?
4. Is there a shortage of homes in Australia?
5. Moving to Australia, so many questions!

Tagged as: Australia, construction