Tradies

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The Block's Dan and Dani, who have appeared on the show for two years running, are teaming up with Tradiematepro.
They are also the founders of the Red Door Project with this latest project aiming to help builders and tradies improve processes and transparency. 
Dani said, “too many tradies who run their own business are still providing written quotes and invoices, don’t know their financials and cash-flow, or even how much time they are spending on the job."
“Those days are gone. If tradies want to thrive in this industry, they want to help educate homeowners that the cheapest quote isn't always the best – as many are still vulnerable to cowboy tradies whose costs blow out simply because they underquoted the job to get the job."
“Having systems in place will also help tradies to navigate unexpected hurdles – like the coronavirus, recent fires and floods, which have led to a 3-6 month delay in supply of joinery products, for example, and driving up the costs of some hardwood prices.”
Dan says they’re also encouraging business owners to look at workplace culture, creating incentive programs and really focusing on client needs and communication. 
Dan and Dani will be available for coaching at <a href="https://www.tradiematepro.com.au/" target="_blank" data-auth="NotApplicable">Tradiematepro</a>.
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

The Block's Dan and Dani teaming up with Tradiematepro

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Local tradies will get the maintenance jobs at their local public schools, with a new online system for businesses by the NSW Government.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro and Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell launched the platform to ensure local businesses, particularly in regional parts of the state, were better supported.
Some 25,000 opportunities to quote for work are expected to be generated, with an estimated total value of $50 million.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the 2019-20 NSW Budget provides more than $620 million to clear the school maintenance backlog in all public schools by July 2020, bringing the total maintenance investment to more than $1.3 billion over five years.
It will be the first time in the state’s history that the school maintenance backlog will be wiped to zero., Mitchell said.
“Through this new e-Tendering system, local tradies will be given more opportunities for the uptake of local jobs, and schools will be able to work alongside trusted community-based businesses,” Mitchell said. 
The contract to manage the new system has been awarded to Hipages Group Pty Ltd, with an initial term of three years.
The new platform will be fully operational early next year, following a staged roll-out and specific department additions to the current hipages platform.
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NSW school repair e-tendering system launched

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New data gathered by tradie jobs website ServiceSeeking.com.au reveals prices can vary significantly depending on your postcode.
Living in some suburbs can drive up the cost of hiring a tradie.
It suggests the diagonal divide between the north-east and south-west of Sydney is clearer than ever.
An excel file of the average hourly rates can be found <a id="LPlnk728416" href="https://serviceseeking2.apms5.com/anywhere/m?s=serviceseeking2&amp;m=s_4607f61d-4040-49b5-a3c8-d97d5c13f33c&amp;u=e1jq4wvfdtfk2hj260rk8d245mukcd1r5mu46da65mw44da65n2kgea38t23eh236n148&amp;r2=d1u78w3k78qjyxvqewq76tbjetmp6tbkcnjppubecwq66vvd5tgqabv2dhqpebv3entq8vvdcnt2yw3jd5hpjvk75nkqaub4cntjyv31ehu6abbcd5q6abbqd1jq4t9df5qqabbcd5v6abb4e9mqctbk5nuq0bb3dxtq8bbfcrppgubjd5q6ebbme9gp8tbkdnjpwbr&amp;n=2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">here</a>. 
The website study noted towards the end of last year as tradie prices started to decline, residents of the inner city, eastern suburbs and the north shore were paying up to 140 per cent more for tradies than those living in the south and west.
ServiceSeeking.com.au mapped the average hourly charge-out rates of tradies across seven industries by analyising over 12,000 hourly rate quotes submitted on the site in 2018.
The map displays areas with prices above the average in red and areas below the average in green.
"The closer you get to the inner city and eastern suburbs, the higher the charge out rate," it concluded.
The most expensive suburbs are clustered around the inner city, east and north; most of the south and west (and outer north-west) of the city is the land of "milk and honey" (ie cheap tradie prices).
The geographical divide of the mapped tradie quotes bears a striking resemblance to the so-called "latte line" - north of the line is where the jobs are, while south of the line is where there's greater housing availability.
Jeremy Levitt, CEO of ServiceSeeking.com.au says tradies continue to lift their rates for customers they perceive as being better able to pay higher prices.  Property prices align with this trend too.
"While we've seen a cooling in the levels of demand for tradies, there are some pockets in Sydney where customers will pay significantly more for an hour of a tradies' time," Levitt said. 
"Tradies working in suburbs considered to be more affluent often increase their charge-out rates because they perceive their customers to be more capable of paying higher prices. In addition to this, these suburbs generally have a higher demand for renovation services."
A low supply of tradespeople above the "latte line" is also a factor, he noted.
"A lot of tradies are commuting from the south and west to the north and east for jobs," Levitt said.
Their hourly charge-out rates will incorporate overheads, including the cost of commuting along with insurance, vehicles, staff and tools.
The data also revealed some interesting pockets of low and high prices.
The cheapest prices for tradies are around the Blue Mountains, Milperra and Horsley Park where the average cost of a tradie is below $60 per hour.
There are also pockets of low charge-out rates in the north and east, which Levitt puts down to either "a low demand for renovation services or a perception that residents in these suburbs can't afford higher prices".
The data serves as a reminder to homeowners to shop around, Levitt said. 
"Renovators need to be sure to compare quotes and prices from numerous tradies to make sure they don't end up overpaying."
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/2/25/Service-seeker.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge</a>.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/2/25/Service-seeker.jpg" alt="">
Source: ServiceSeeking.com.au
The industries included in this analysis were: Source: ServiceSeeking.com.au
<ol>
<li>Handymen</li>
<li>Electrical Services</li>
<li>Plumbing</li>
<li>Carpenters</li>
<li>Painters</li>
<li>Concreters; and</li>
<li>Builders</li>
</ol>
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Same service, different price: how postcodes affect the cost of hiring tradies 

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A shortage in critical trade skills in NSW is attracting migrants from across the state borders, says a new report.
According to the latest Q 3 2018 Property Market Insight report from Turner &amp; Townsend, major construction activity in commercial, hotel and infrastructure sectors is reating opportunities for Queensland tradies.
The report says that skills at capacity or critical levels in Sydney include fit-out (carpet, painting, partitioning and joinery), services (mechanical, electrical and fire), façade (glazing and balustrades and structures (form work, concrete, and pre-cast concrete).
The report also outlines that while wages are rising in Sydney, they are drifting in Queensland.
In Sydney, form worker salaries have increased by 4%, precast concreters 3%, site foreman 16% and reinforcement 14%.
Meanwhile, in Queensland site foreman recorded a minus 4%, precast concrete and curtain wall glazing façade workers was down 3%, while reinforcement was up by 14% and form work 4%.
 <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/10/22/nsw.jpg" alt="" style="font-size: 12.16px;">
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/10/22/qld%201.jpg" alt="">
Source: Q3 2018 Property Market Insight report  
Simon Kearney, Director at Turner &amp; Townsend said the report told a tale of two cities.
“The two cities are working at different paces which has opened up opportunities for Queensland tradies in the New South Wales market. Sydney remains the largest construction sector with $62 billion spent in the last financial year across building and engineering, reaching record levels,” he said.
“Construction work in all major sectors including commercial, infrastructure and hotels is at elevated or record levels which is providing strong job prospects for contractors and increased tender return prices in Sydney.”
“Prime office vacancy rates in Sydney are hovering around four percent indicating a tight market and creating ideal conditions for construction. White collar job growth is rising significantly on the back of a boom in financial services, real estate, engineering and tourism. Short term tourist arrivals of 3.4 million during 2017 – 2018 comprised 38% of the nation’s total, is driving growth in the construction of Sydney’s inner-city hotels.
“In addition, engineering construction in Sydney recorded over $23 billion in activity during the 2018 financial year. Most of the activity was road and rail which is expected to grow by another $1 billon to peak at approximately $12 billion during 2019/2020.”
“Despite all this growth, residential construction is now starting to slow. Housing prices have fallen by as much as eight% in 2018. The slowdown in residential construction is likely to take the heat out of trade labour costs, even if material prices are increasing strongly as a direct result of road and rail projects,” he continued.
“In comparison, Brisbane’s CBD commercial vacancy rates have blown out to 14% primary and 22% in secondary markets since the mining boom ended, negatively affecting commercial construction. Nevertheless, new commercial towers at 300 George Street, 360 Queen Street and a major refurbishment at 80 Ann Street are imminent,” he continued.
“Queens Wharf is emblematic of the changing face of Queensland construction with new projects catering for the tourism market rather than business. When construction starts in this area, demand for trades will increase significantly and will push construction costs up.”
“In the near future several infrastructure projects including Cross River Rail, Brisbane Metro Rail, the Queensland section of the Inland Rail project and the completion of the Kingsford Smith upgrade will spur activity in the state. These projects have the potential to draw Queensland tradies back home which will put more pressure on an already heated New South Wales labour market.”
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Sydney construction skill shortage attracting Queensland tradies

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<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">ServiceSeeking has pinpointed their website's top tradie, a Melbourne builder specialising in property maintenance, renovations, demolitions and fit-outs, who brought home over $372,000 in FY18.   He made more than many top earning doctors and lawyers, based on the latest median income stats from the ATO.    The top 10 tradies on ServiceSeeking took home a combined $1.2 million over the last financial year.    <img src="https://d15k2d11r6t6rl.cloudfront.net/public/users/Integrators/929cb090-e779-401a-b06c-c629ff6b0fea/ap-serviceseeking2/Top%20Tradie%20v%20Median%20Income_1.png" alt="Image" width="733" height="432" data-imagetype="External">   Australia wide, removalists enjoyed the highest charge out rates in FY18 versus FY17 while handymen were the biggest mover in terms of percentage change, with an increase in charge out rates of 11.97%.    <img src="https://d15k2d11r6t6rl.cloudfront.net/public/users/Integrators/929cb090-e779-401a-b06c-c629ff6b0fea/ap-serviceseeking2/AUS%20wide.png" alt="Image" width="718" height="410" data-imagetype="External">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
 NSW removalists have been awarded the title of Australia’s Richest Trade Profession for 2018.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">  <img src="https://d15k2d11r6t6rl.cloudfront.net/public/users/Integrators/929cb090-e779-401a-b06c-c629ff6b0fea/ap-serviceseeking2/Rich%20List%202.png" alt="Image" width="719" height="391" data-imagetype="External">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">Builders from Queensland increased their prices by the largest percentage this financial year, 32.73% with the national rate sitting at $88.63/hr.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">This pushes them into the top 10, coming in at 6th place. The survey noted overall the Tradie Rich List for 2018 consists of only a few industries that are characterised by onerous licensing regimes or high start up costs (removalists for example are running expensive work vehicles and paying high insurance premiums). </div>
<div style="text-align: left;"> </div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div>In FY18, hourly rates grew faster than the year prior by 1.78%, hourly charge out rate growth in FY18 was 5.78% compared to 4% in FY17.   This rise in hourly rates also greatly exceeded the recently published CPI figures of 0.4%. South Australia saw the greatest rise in rates at 8.57% while Victoria was the only state to post negative growth at -1.94%.   <img src="https://d15k2d11r6t6rl.cloudfront.net/public/users/Integrators/929cb090-e779-401a-b06c-c629ff6b0fea/ap-serviceseeking2/State%20Growth%20Rates%20FY18.png" alt="Image" width="685" height="452" data-imagetype="External">  </div>
</div>
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Removalists earn the highest hourly rate among Australia's Tradie Rich List

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The number of women in the manual trades in Australia has barely budged in the last 20 years. While lower-skilled and lower-paid jobs like hairdressing have increased the number of women being employed, manual trades like electricians, carpenters and mechanics have remained at incredibly low levels.
Women make up just 3% of those employed in the electrotechnology and telecommunications trades, and only 1% of those working in construction, engineering and automotive trades.
Governments, industries and education providers have long tried to overcome skills shortages in the manual trades by encouraging more women to pursue these careers. But the gender imbalance remains entrenched due in part to a culture that resists diversity.
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A research project that we’ve been leading at Charles Sturt University has shown that boosting the number of women in the manual trades requires cultural shifts in society as much as within the industries themselves.
Quite simply, the manual trades are perceived to be masculine professions. This means that girls generally don’t consider careers in these fields.
Moreover, many of their parents actively discourage them from doing so. They fear their daughters will be at risk in a male environment, that there is too much heavy lifting and dirty work.
Schools and other education facilities help to reinforce this gendered division of labour by sending mostly boys on school work experience programs.
Further complicating the issue is the fact that parents and schools generally do not understand career pathways in the trades. Career advisers encourage the idea that the trades are for kids without good grades – a damaging misperception. Grades and university placements are celebrated in society, while progression into the trades is not. Most people don’t realise one can become a trade specialist with further education, or some day go into management.
Many trades actively try to recruit girls and women, but due to these social stigmas and cultural norms, the recruitment pool is quite shallow.
Recruitment is only half the problem, though. Retention is another issue.
Women report that bullying, harassment, foul language and sexist jokes are common in the trades. Chauvinist attitudes are ingrained in many workplaces. Rumours that women only acquired their jobs through “sexual favours” or that they are receiving preferential treatment and need special allowances are persistent.
Some men also refuse to give women the same help they would offer their male colleagues, a problem that can be physically dangerous.
Knocking down walls
Our research has shown that in regional New South Wales, however, some women do survive – and thrive – in the trades. Programs here are helping women break through the barriers. These include mentoring programs specifically for women, buddy systems and all-female work teams. Networking initiatives connecting women to others in the trade have also been successful.
Our research shows that community education and the earlier engagement of girls can help normalise the role of the “tradie” for girls. For example, a program in NSW called Women’s Sheds teaches women of all ages how to use tools, make repairs and build things. Another highly successful program, Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen, involves qualified tradeswomen sharing their experiences with schoolchildren and women in the community.
Apprenticeship providers in regional NSW are also proving to be highly successful in placing female tradies with employers. Companies are also trying to remove gender bias from their recruitment advertisements, thereby increasing their recruitment pool and tackling the skills shortage.
And some companies are challenging the traditionally sexist attitudes that remain a problem for women on the job. Cadia Mines, for example, provides contact officers to all female employees for safety, support and training.
What’s driving this slow transformation is a growing belief that the industry is more profitable when there is diversity in the workforce. But much work remains to be done. For example, government and industry leaders need to develop stronger codes of etiquette to improve workplace culture in the manual trades. The expectation that women should just try to “fit in” and “be one of the boys” also needs to change.
Cultural and social adjustments can build on the incremental improvements that have been made. These include changing everything from the social perceptions of the trades and family expectations to the availability of school-based work experience and the advice of career counsellors.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/97091/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Another critical element is creating workplace cultures that are inclusive of women and accepting of diversity, not seeking to push this away.
Donna Bridges, Lecture of sociology, Charles Sturt University
Branka Krivokapic-Skoko, Economist and Economic Sociologist, Charles Sturt University
Elizabeth Wulff, Sessional Academic in Literature and Sociology, Charles Sturt University
Larissa Bamberry, Senior Lecturer, Charles Sturt University
Stacey Jenkins, Lecturer, Charles Sturt University
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-female-tradie-shortage-why-real-change-requires-a-major-cultural-shift-97091" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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The female tradie shortage: why real change requires a major cultural shift

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Tilers in Queensland have taken a 51 percent pay rise after falling significantly short of the national average 2016, with hourly rates nearly $10 below the national average at the end of the financial year.
Tilers now earn 7 per cent more than the national average at $59.25/hour, making them the best paid in Australia.
Overall tradies in Queensland have strongly benefitted from the housing construction boom with a 9 per cent rise in hourly rates over the past year.
In the last quarter alone prices have surged by 3 per cent according to new data released by find-a-tradie site <a href="https://api.autopilothq.com/anywhere/m?s=serviceseeking&amp;m=s_529e918c-4598-4618-aaef-25a26ef65b86&amp;u=e1jq4wvfdtfkeh9r890m4dht5n138hht5mu36d9j5mwkaha25mu34chq8cw3echh6ct48&amp;r2=d1u78w1u5wqq6tbjetmp6tbkcnjppubecwq66vvd5tgqa&amp;n=1">ServiceSeeking.com.au</a>.
So what can you expect to pay for a tradie over the upcoming months?
 
Tradies that have had the most growth this year:
<ul>
<li>Tilers are up by 51% to $59.93/hour</li>
<li>Builders are up by 17% to $72.93/hour</li>
<li>Painters are up by 9% to $48.11/hour</li>
</ul>
 
Landscapers and plasterers were not so fortunate, experiencing a drop in prices by 3% and 1% respectively.
 
Tradies that earn highest above the national hourly average:
<ul>
<li>Painters are 8% above national hourly average</li>
<li>Builders are also 8% above the national hourly average</li>
<li>Tilers are 7% above the national hourly average</li>
<li>Plasterers are 5% above the national hourly average at $50.93/hour</li>
</ul>
 
Tradies that fall below the national hourly average:
<ul>
<li>Carpenters are 7% below the national hourly average at $60.22/hour</li>
<li>Electricians are 6% below the national hourly average at $75.15/hour</li>
<li>Plumbers are 3% below the national hourly average at $82.64/hour</li>
</ul>
 
Hourly rates are “gross” rates and aside from including the cost of labour, also cover the cost of running the business including insurance, tools, work vehicles, insurance and superannuation.
The prices were derived by comparing a sample of 52,000 quotes submitted during the FY18 Q1 through <a href="https://api.autopilothq.com/anywhere/m?s=serviceseeking&amp;m=s_529e918c-4598-4618-aaef-25a26ef65b86&amp;u=e1jq4wvfdtfkeh9r890m4dht5n138hht5mu36d9j5mwkaha25mu34chq8cw3echh6ct48&amp;r2=d1u78w1u5wqq6tbjetmp6tbkcnjppubecwq66vvd5tgqabr&amp;n=2">ServiceSeeking.com.au</a>, the website for getting any job done.
 
<table><tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="8">
Queensland Tradie Price Index
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Industry
</td>
<td>
FY18-Q1
</td>
<td>
FY17-Q1
</td>
<td>
Yearly Change
</td>
<td>
FY17Q4
</td>
<td>
Quarterly Change
</td>
<td>
National Average FY18-Q1
</td>
<td>
% Diff on average
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Builder
</td>
<td>
$72.93
</td>
<td>
$62.35
</td>
<td>
17%
</td>
<td>
$68.30
</td>
<td>
7%
</td>
<td>
$67.83
</td>
<td>
8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Carpenter
</td>
<td>
$60.22
</td>
<td>
 $56.85
</td>
<td>
6%
</td>
<td>
$60.90
</td>
<td>
-1%
</td>
<td>
$61.28
</td>
<td>
-7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Electrician
</td>
<td>
$75.15
</td>
<td>
$73.03
</td>
<td>
3%
</td>
<td>
$74.10
</td>
<td>
1%
</td>
<td>
$77.59
</td>
<td>
-6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Landscaper
</td>
<td>
$56.00
</td>
<td>
 $58.00
</td>
<td>
-3%
</td>
<td>
$56.90
</td>
<td>
-2%
</td>
<td>
$54.16
</td>
<td>
3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Painter
</td>
<td>
$48.11
</td>
<td>
$44.33
</td>
<td>
9%
</td>
<td>
$45.30
</td>
<td>
6%
</td>
<td>
$44.42
</td>
<td>
8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Plasterer
</td>
<td>
$50.93
</td>
<td>
$51.41
</td>
<td>
-1%
</td>
<td>
$49.60
</td>
<td>
3%
</td>
<td>
$48.58
</td>
<td>
5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Plumber
</td>
<td>
$82.64
</td>
<td>
$79.77
</td>
<td>
4%
</td>
<td>
$79.20
</td>
<td>
4%
</td>
<td>
$85.57
</td>
<td>
-3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Tiler
</td>
<td>
$59.93
</td>
<td>
 $39.70
</td>
<td>
51%
</td>
<td>
$55.10
</td>
<td>
9%
</td>
<td>
$55.85
</td>
<td>
7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Average
</td>
<td>
$63.24
</td>
<td>
$58.18
</td>
<td>
9%
</td>
<td>
$61.20
</td>
<td>
3%
</td>
<td>
$61.91
</td>
<td>
2%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Queensland tilers earn 51% more in 2017, making them the best paid tradies in Australia

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Tradies are in short supply in NSW’s regional area and lack of competition could see their profits in these areas soaring, according to data from a jobs website.
The ServiceSeeking.com.au data highlights the most profitable areas for tradies operating in New South Wales.
The website aims to connect tradies with jobs in their local areas.
The data found that builders in Dubbo and Orana have 69% less competition versus the national average.
Carpenters in the Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley regions are also severely undersupplied.
Newcastle is running dry of painter with 50% less competition than the national average, while plasterers and tilers should look towards the South Coast.
 “If you’re a builder in the South Coast or regional NSW, the undersupply in Dubbo or Shoalhaven is a huge opportunity,” says ServiceSeeking.com.au CEO Jeremy Levitt.
“It’s a great chance for builders to increase their prices and capitalise on the lack of supply.
“Targeting areas where there’s less competition is a great way for tradies to jump in and make serious money.”
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