What is a Trade?

A trade is a job requiring special skills, knowledge and training and the ability to perform manual tasks within that job role.

We often think of electricians or plumbers and similar jobs when we think of trade jobs, but there are many more than that.

 

Why Learn a Trade?

Skills Shortages

In March of this year (2022), there was a 42% shortage in Australia of skilled tradespeople, compared to a 19% skills shortage in other areas. This means that there are massive job and business opportunities for trades people. 

As we have already mentioned, when we consider trades, we tend to think of the well-known ones, such as electricians and plumbers, but today, there are shortages in many different trade professions, such as –

• Landscape construction
• Refuse collectors
• Heating and Air conditioning engineers and installers
• Cleaners
• Computer Servicing
• Mechanics
• Bus and truck drivers
• Train drivers
• Builders
• Building inspectors
• Wind turbine technicians
• Crane operators
• Boiler engineers
• Welders
• Brick mason
• Carpenters
• As well as plumbers and electricians.

As you can see, there are many varied job roles in the trades professions and skills shortages in many of the job roles.

Earn a Good Salary

Tradespeople can earn good salaries as they are in such high demand.  Some trade jobs pay more than others. The competition can also be quite intense to get the high paying jobs or contracts. You can also set up your own business and potentially earn even more.

Work for Yourself or Someone Else

Tradespeople can get jobs and work for others, but there are also a lot of opportunities to work for yourself, as a freelancer, setting up your own business, as a consultant and so on.  This gives you the independence and freedom to work in a way that suits you.   Or you may prefer to work for someone else.

Flexibility

As a tradesperson, you may be expected to work irregular hours. A person’s boiler might breakdown and they need support urgently. A bus driver may work unsociable hours. A person has a leak and needs a plumber straight away.

A tradesperson may work unsociable hours, and even be “on call” ready to respond to emergencies. They may have to work weekends and evenings to fit in with the needs of their clients.

This does also mean that you can be more flexible in your working hours. You do have to work at a time to fit in with clients, but it can also mean that you choose your hours more to suit you.  For example, you might prefer to work evenings and weekends and have time off in the week.

A second job

Trades can often be a second job. For example, Dan is a fire officer and works as a plumber on his rostered days off from the fire service. This offers you the opportunity to increase your income and add variety to your working life.

Get out and about

Not everyone wants an office job or to be sat on a computer all day. Trade jobs give you the opportunity to get out and about, travelling between jobs. Depending on the job, there are also opportunities to work in different locations, indoors and outdoors.  This gives variety and difference to the job role.

Do What You Are Good At

Training in a trade profession can also give you the opportunity to trade at what you are good at. You might be good at solving problems or working with your hands. You might love being outdoors with nature and plants.  Everyone is different and different trades offering different people different opportunities.

Any Age

Today, people can change their jobs up to 12 times on average. People retrain and want new careers. This means that people may start a job in trade straight from school, in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and more.  There is no set age to start a career in a trade profession.

Promotion and Advancement Opportunities

There are also advancement opportunities in the trade professions.  For example –

• Starting a business
• Becoming a trainer in a trades profession
• Writing training materials or books on the topics
• Become a manager or supervisor

 

So - Are you thinking of training in a new trade?

Step 1

Think of a trade profession or professions that interest you.

Step 2

Do you have any existing knowledge in skills in this profession?

Do you need to start an introductory course or could you do something more advanced?

Step 3

Have a look at the training available.  You might want to –

• Go to college to study
• Take an online trade course

The advantages of studying by online learning are that –

• You can study while you stay in your existing job, so you earn while you learn.
• You can work at your own pace.
• You can study at a time and location to suit you.
• Get practical and theoretical experience.

Step 4

By this stage, you have hopefully decided –

• What type or types of trade professions interest you.
• What level you need to start training from.
• How you are going to study.

But if you are not sure, the fourth step is to get some advice.

Our experienced and professional trades tutors are happy to help. They can provide suggestions or more detailed information the courses that may suit YOU.

Step 5

Trades professions are varied, flexible, interesting, varied and potentially well-paid. 

There are skills shortages in many trades professions today. This offers you a wide range of potential jobs and business opportunities in trade industries.

So, now the final step is to just get started and enrol on the course(s) that interests you.