A young tradie has warned that spiralling tool costs could be contributing to a rising shortage of workers entering the building and construction industry.
Beau Connelly, a second-year air conditioning apprentice from Sydney, told Yahoo News the cost of tools has “gone through the roof” and is turning some Aussies away from working in the trades.
About 116,700 additional construction workers are needed to meet the government’s bold push to build 1.2 million new homes over five years from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2029.
“I do believe to an extent that the cost of tools is turning people away from the industry,” he told Yahoo News.
“I predominantly pay for tools myself,” he said, adding he spends up to $1,000 a quarter — or $4,000 a year — to acquire all the tools he needs.
Beau said good-quality tools have always been expensive, but the price of electrical testing equipment like multimeters and megameters has gone up, as has the price of work gear.
Beau Connelly feels that material prices have “gone through the roof” since he started air conditioning. Source: Supplied
“I bought my Fluke 325 multimeter for $500, whereas my tradesmen, when they bought them five years ago, paid about $300-$400,” he said.
“From my experience, it has become a lot more expensive to purchase good-quality work gear, such as work pants. When I first started, I was buying work pants for like $70 dollars, and now for worse quality pants from the same brand are $90-$100.”
First two years are the hardest for apprentices
The air conditioning industry, like many trades, has faced a significant increase in the cost of materials, with copper, cable and refrigerant all rising in price.
Similar rises are being seen in materials for the building industry, with cement products up 5.2 per cent and ceramics up another 2.6 per cent, according to Master Builders Australia.
An air conditioner tradie spends about $2,000 to $ 6,000 per year on replacing tools and equipment. While licensing and training can reach up to $5000 per year.
Apprentices feel the financial sting the hardest in the first two years of work, due to set-up and replacement costs.
While it didn’t put Beau off his career, knowing that he would need to “slowly build out” his equipment over time, he believes that more help from employers, and greater visibility around hardship support could move the needle in encouraging young Aussies to get into the trades.
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The 19-year-old said he’s definitely considered the Australian Apprenticeship Support Loan, which allows apprentices to borrow up to $25,000 from the government. Repayments wouldn’t apply until they earn over about $67,000.
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On completion of an apprenticeship, a tradie will receive a 20 per cent discount off the loan.
“I haven’t used the support loan; it has definitely crossed my mind due to the lower pay, but I am making do with what I earn at the moment,” Beau said.
He said he was thankful for the “decent difference” the fuel excise cuts have made, although some work vehicles are still feeling the effect of higher diesel prices.
The Albanese government aims to build 1.2 million new homes over five years from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2029. Source: Getty Images
(Andrew Merry via Getty Images)Tradie tool costs are leading to tools down
Beau said that some of his colleagues are bearing the brunt of the cost of tools, but thankfully, his company covers the cost of work vehicles.
“I don’t think there is an immediate solution; help from employers would be more beneficial, but that can also reduce your wages if they provide you with a larger tool allowance,” he said.
“I believe there are still enough people out there wanting to do trades, and it wasn’t too hard for me to find a job. I think if you go out there with the right attitude, you won’t have much drama.”
Despite the shortage, construction workers are the fourth-largest employing industry (1.3 million people) and contribute $163 billion to industry value (third-largest in the economy), according to 2022-23 Australian Bureau of Statistics Industry data.
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