Carpenters - Are you working?

[Guest gormusoglu]

Hi all, we are considering coming over to either Perth or Adelaide this October or possibly January.

 

However, reading the posts about the job market it always seems to get a bit heated and a lot of disagreement on whether there are jobs or not with no real outcome. So....for any carpenters out there in Perth or Adelaide, or construction workers....

 

Is there work available?

 

Are you working?

 

Obviously the job market is slow for you guys in Australia, but it is really quite bad in England.

 

Thanks, as we are in two minds whether to come or not. My husband is a carpenter with a broad amount of experience but is working through agencies with some gaps between work. We want the better life as do all, but there has to be work to live.

 

Thanks all, I've posted this on pomsinoz and adelaidepoms too.

[Maxg]

Hi, I have been in Perth now for 11 weeks still with no work. I am a Site Manager and and have been for the last 15 years working with some of the top construction companies in the UK, I am a Carpenter by trade. I think with all the interviews I have had I am close to getting the right offer.

 

Now I keep an eye on all the trades out here and listen to what is being said at interviews and most are in agreement that it is slow at the moment. If you look at carpenters and say lets take a standard house, they have no skirting boards, no window boards the Bricklayers fit the door frames, the cabinet makers usually fit the kitchens and the roofs are mostly stick built and they have roofing teams that are all set up and ready to do these. Basically that does not leave a lot of work for a Carpenter in the house! (just about forgot to say that you will also come across the phrase no WA experience)

 

My advice would be very careful with what you choose if you have regular work in the UK then stick with that a bit longer as things are looking like they will get going out here nearer the end of the year, as most interviews I am at are saying that there is going to be a big push on the residential side and in a big way in apartments which is what I will be hopefully building.

 

The trade at the moment that seems to be lots going on for are Bricklayers everyone seem to be advertising for them but again a single Bricklayer does not really get taken on he has to be part of a gang.

 

The good point is that Perth is a lovely area to live and bring up children and there will be some people who come across and land a job very quickly but the will be a select few.

[Guest gormusoglu]

Thanks Maxg for such a nice and informative post. Not too good on the job front then and we don't have any contacts so it will be starting from scratch to get some experience and a name for his self. He can do small amounts of brickwork/blockwork, plastering and basic plumbing, but not enough to get a job doing it solely.

 

My husband doesn't have regular work here, but it is reasonably steady. We will not be coming out before the end of the year so hopefully you will be right and it will pick up.

 

We should have made the move a year ago!! lol.

[andyplasterer]

Hi maxg,

thanks thats a really helpful post. Im waiting on my visa being granted in the next few months , ill be coming out on my own to find work whilst staying with family friends in jandakot. My wife and 3 kids will follow when ive found a job and house. Im a bit concerned about the wa experience thing because how can I get experience if no one gives me a job. Im just going to land and apply for every plastering job I can find

[Maxg]

Hi andyplasterer,

That's the thing without a job you will never gain WA experience! Having a look at the job section in paper today and there is only 2 jobs for plasterers so you can see that it's quite hard at the moment. The best way out here is if you get to know someone who is working in that trade then if they put a word in for you you may get a foot in the door.

 

Only a few jobs for Carpenters, Electricians and Plumbers but Bricklayers wipe the board again with about 20 jobs advertised!

[kjlav]

Hi we have been in perth for seven months now!

My hubby and son are both carpenters. We left the UK cos their jobs were always so unsettled never a steady run of work. We knew someone here who put in a good word in for them both,so they had immediate work which was great. All though not much of it is carpentry more shop fitting than anything. But that last few weeks have been really quiet not much work on, and a little worrying as I am only working casual. Its difficult just sitting waiting round for the phone to ring there isn't that much work about for carpenters. As Maxg says theres not much woodwork goes into these new builds here..I do believe its all about who you know and getting a lucky break! Be prepared to travel most work seems south of the river so it's early mornings stuck in traffic!,

The WA experience thing is a nightmare it's the same in most jobs they like you to have it! But how do you get it if you can't get a job? .... Vicious circle..

on the plus side we won't be going home Perth is a fab place to live... My hubby doesn't miss those early frosty mornings working on sites in the freezing cold!!

[Guest gormusoglu]

Hi we have been in perth for seven months now!

My hubby and son are both carpenters. We left the UK cos their jobs were always so unsettled never a steady run of work. We knew someone here who put in a good word in for them both,so they had immediate work which was great. All though not much of it is carpentry more shop fitting than anything. But that last few weeks have been really quiet not much work on, and a little worrying as I am only working casual. Its difficult just sitting waiting round for the phone to ring there isn't that much work about for carpenters. As Maxg says theres not much woodwork goes into these new builds here..I do believe its all about who you know and getting a lucky break! Be prepared to travel most work seems south of the river so it's early mornings stuck in traffic!,

The WA experience thing is a nightmare it's the same in most jobs they like you to have it! But how do you get it if you can't get a job? .... Vicious circle..

on the plus side we won't be going home Perth is a fab place to live... My hubby doesn't miss those early frosty mornings working on sites in the freezing cold!!

 

Thanks Kjlav, glad its a fab place to live, but we need work to live in it unfortunately. A bit worrying I must say and thinking we could have to say good bye to our dream. Will post again in September/October and see if the work front has picked up. When you say south of the river, being a bit rubbish at geography! Is that Fremantle and Rockingham way? We were kind of hoping my oh would find work at the airport as he works all the terminals at Heathrow and there is the new big refurbishment at Perth airport.

 

Yes, my husband is orginally from turkey and he hates the weather here. Working on roofs in the freezing cold is never good and riding his motorbike in constant rain or icy conditions. However, he did say the hot weather would be equally bad being stuck in someones loft in mid summer - there is just no pleasing him lol.

 

I'm going to look into getting a full time job with my qualifications in childcare, then perhaps we will be a bit more secure.

 

Thanks guys, although it is not what we wanted to hear, it's been very helpful.