This Is Why Australia Has No Tradies Left

In 1965, every Australian town had a plumber, an electrician, a carpenter, and a builder you could call by name. The four-year apprenticeship was a serious commitment that produced world-class skilled workers. A tradie earned enough to buy a house, support a family, and retire with dignity. Trades were respected. They were the backbone of working life. Today, Australia is short 83,000 tradies. Half of all advertised trade jobs cannot be filled. There are 27,000 fewer tradies than there were in 2023, a 7.1 percent collapse in a single year. Wait weeks for a plumber. Pay 150 dollars before any work begins. The tradies who built modern Australia are retiring with their tools, and there is nobody waiting to pick them up. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - When tradies were the backbone of Australia 1:30 - The four-year apprenticeship that built a nation 3:00 - The 1988 Dawkins reforms and the cultural shift 4:45 - The TAFE funding collapse 6:15 - The numbers: 83,000 tradies short 7:45 - What it costs you when there's no tradie to call 9:30 - What we lost, and why we cannot rebuild it quickly 📊 KEY FACTS (verified 2026 data): - Australia is short 83,000 tradies in residential construction (HIA) - 50% of all technician and trade occupations are in shortage - Fill rate for trade jobs is just 57% (Occupation Shortage Report 2025) - 27,000 fewer tradies in 2024 than in 2023, a 7.1% drop - Half of all apprentices do not complete their training (NCVER) - 10,000 fewer new apprentice starters than in 2021 - Construction trade apprentices fell 4% in a single year - Master Builders Australia: need 30% more workers to meet 1.2 million home target This is part of the Old Australia series on what the Australian Dream used to look like, and what we let happen to it. 💬 When was the last time you waited weeks for a tradie? Did you grow up in a family of tradies, or know someone whose apprenticeship shaped their life? Share your story in the comments. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly documentaries on what happened to Australia. #AustralianTradies #SkillsShortage #TAFE #Apprenticeship #OldAustralia