What is a trade?
A trade is a job or career that requires manual skills and special training. Well-known examples of trade careers include –
- Carpenters
- Gardeners
- Plumbers
- Electricians
- Mechanics
But that is just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many different careers within trade industries, such as –
- Nurses
- Home inspectors
- Engineers
- Aircraft technicians
- Motor vehicle engineers and techniques
- Refrigeration engineers
- Conveyor belt engineers
- Waste disposal experts
- Farm manager
- Equipment operator, such as cranes, agricultural equipment
- Caretaker
- Nursery and plant manager
- Conservation technician
- Tree surgeon
- Pipe fitter
- Painter and decorator
- Mason
- Air conditioning or heating technician
- Bus driver
- Coach driver
- Nursing assistant
- Chef
- Baker
There are far too many to list here, but we are sure you get the idea. There are many different options if you are considering having a career in a trade.
If you are not leaving school, college or university right now, you might wonder if you are too old to start a career in trade. Nothing could be further from the truth for many people.
Changing Careers
Firstly, don’t be worried about training for a new career. Today, people are changing careers much more than in the past. For most people, gone are the days when they left school and had the same job until they retired. In the past, many employers viewed people who changed jobs frequently with suspicion, but things have changed. The average Australian person now changes jobs twelve times in their lives. They hold a job, on average, for just over three years.
Younger people have always tended to change jobs more frequently and this still applies today, with younger people sticking to jobs, on average, 1 year and 8 months. But for people over 25, the average number of years in a job has now dropped from 10 years in 1975 to 6 years today. This shows that no matter what your age, people are changing jobs more frequently than in the past.
Ready to Change Career?
Are you thinking about changing your career?
- Have you lost your interest and passion for your existing job?
- Do you miss the challenge of learning a new skill or gaining new knowledge?
- Do you enjoy variety in your work?
If you are ready to change career, but are not sure if a trade is a good career choice for you, then consider the advantages of having a career in trade.
Job Opportunities!
In America, It is estimated that three million skill trade jobs will still be unfilled in 2028.
In Australia today, there are over half a million skilled trade vacancies that are not filled.
This means that there are skills shortages in many trades, meaning that there are many career and job opportunities available for the skilled tradesperson.
There is a high demand for skilled tradespeople.
Higher Pay
Because there is such a demand for skilled tradespeople today, the payment received for work completed has increased. This means a higher general income for good tradespeople.
Job Stability
The shortage in skilled workers means that there is more likely to be work available in the long term, creating more job and business stability.
Training
Some trades require university attendance, but not all. You can become trained in some trades without the need for prolonged full time education and the attendant costs. This means that you can train in a trade more quickly and for less cost than other careers.
Variety
Jobs in trade tend to have more variety.
You might be –
- Working in different settings every day. For example, in people’s homes, different businesses, different locations.
- Work different hours. For example, you might offer emergency work “out of hours” or work hours to suit you.
- Every job is different. Think about an electrician writing up people’s homes. No job is going to be the same.
- Meeting different people as part of your job role.
- Setting up your own business, be a freelancer or work for an organisation
So, is a trade career right for you?
If you are interested in starting a career in a trade, let’s consider how old is too old to start a trade career.
How Old Is Too Old To Start a Trade Career?
Most people start a trade career before they are 24. However, this is now changing. As we said earlier, people are changing their careers more often, so people entering a trade at 20 may not stay in that trade.
People are also changing career more frequently meaning that people over 24 are also entering trades.
This is a shifting area as the trend is for a wider age range of people to enter trade careers.
So - You do not have to be under 24 to begin a career in a trade!
In a recent poll, a significant percentage of people starting a new trade were aged over 45.
Other Factors To Consider
Changing career to work in a trade is not about age. Also consider factors such as -
Are there any issues you need to consider before deciding on a trade?
- For example, some jobs require the person to be able to see colour. Electricity wires are often colour coded so if you were colour blind, this could be dangerous.
- Do you feel claustrophobic in tight spaces? An electrician or plumber may have to work in tight spaces.
Other things to consider -
- Do you want to work indoors or outdoors? For example, a career in garden design, agriculture or horticulture will require more outdoor work than a job in electrics or plumbing.
- Do you want to work for someone else or set up your own business?
- Do you prefer to work set hours or are you flexible and willing to work evenings, weekends and holidays?
- Do you like variety in your work?
- How physically fit are you? Will this affect the trade that you are able to work in?
You may feel that there are some barriers for you working in a trade, but as we said before, there are lots and lots of different options. So just because one trade does not seem right for you, does not mean that there are not opportunities in another trade.
Age Limits
There is no obvious age limit to starting training for a new trade. It is less about your age and more about your ability and willingness to do the job.
People do enter trade careers before they are 24, but
- Over 1/3 of people in a recent Twitter poll were over 25 when they entered a trade career.
- 20% were aged 25 – 34
- 7% were aged 35 – 44
- 4% were over 45 when they started
Research by the Centre for Construction Research and Training found that 40% of construction workers are 45 – 64.
These are figures from the past.
Today, there is –
- An increasing skills shortage for tradespeople
- More mobility between careers, no matter what your age
- An increase in the ways to train in a career, such as – on the job, part time, online learning.
This means that, no matter what your age, there are opportunities within trade careers.
Training
If working in a trade sounds like an option for you, now is the time to consider the training you require.
You might be worried about taking time off to train in a new trade. This can mean reduced or no income, but there are many options available today, such as –
- Training part time
- On the job training
- Training online
For example, we offer a range of trade training courses that you can study online. For example –
And much more.
Contact us to find out more about training in a trade.
Remember – there is no age limit for training in a career.
It is your –
- Ability
- Enthusiasm
- Passion for the job
That matters, not your age!