BACKBREAKING bricklaying is becoming an increasingly harder sell to young workers - but the shortfall presents a burgeoning opportunity for local tradesman to capitalise on demand.
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Wagga brickies are part of an ageing industry struggling to draw interest from young people in a statewide shortage felt by both bricklayers and builders who contract them.
Glenn Bennett has watched his Wagga competitors dwindle since he entered the trade in 1990 and points to a slow uptake of the trade by young people as the reason behind the dyeing industry.
“It’s an ongoing process that’s for sure,” Mr Bennett said.
“I’ve got to source them, there’s not many young ones who want to do it. It’s definitely an ageing industry, there’s a fair few brickies around Wagga between 50 and 60. (But) it’s tough to employ young people.”
Mr Bennett said regional brickies, who are paid less than $1 per brick, struggled more than their metropolitan cousins, who charge about $1.50 per brick, because the cost of labour was a uniformed rate for employees.
“The cost of labour has gone through the roof,” Mr Bennett said of his two apprentices and one qualified brickie.
“It is a battle to keep them employed. You try keep your prices as low as you can so the builder gets the job, but you’re competing with out of towners. I’m getting heaps of work, but the cost of labour (is on the rise).”
“It’s definitely an ageing industry ... It’s tough to employ young people.”
- Glenn Bennett
Wagga builder Wayne Carter believed the “definite shortage” was because young people were more inclined to study at university than undertake a trade.
“When I was young, there was a lot of bricklayers around,” Mr Carter said. “There’s still the same old faces, but not many young people coming through.”
Mr Carter has used the same two sub-contracting bricklayers for years, but believes the price of contracting will increase with fewer competitors.
“It’s supply and demand,” he said. “Back in the day, you never made a lot of money.”
Housing Industry Association Wagga president Ryan Knight said bricklaying topped the list of a tradesman shortage in the city.
“I have heard there is definitely a lack of young people taking up the trade,” Mr Knight said. “It’s difficult to get them (young people) to start trades and completion rates are down. Part of it is, it’s a really tough job.”
