The following report is originally published by the Gold Coast Bulletin (source: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/lifestyle/the-government-has-released-wages-data-for-the-gold-coast-how-much-should-you-be-paid/news-story/e66106a1ac7a4884f82db8fb5e807571)
The government has recently released wages data for the Gold Coast, revealing growth in trade and construction earnings.
According to the census data gathered in the Gold Coast from 2011-2016, the number of tradies grew by 17.42%, to 34,287, with the number of machinists and drivers also increasing by 19.33% to 21.6% to 12,537.
Along with the growth in the number of people working in the trades sector, the demand for these workers is also at an all-time high which is reflective of an increase in wages. From 2011-2016 the average salary for construction workers grew an impressive 25%, with machinists increasing by 21.6%.
The growth in wages for these two industries is beginning to challenge the average wage of managers and professionals who only saw an increase in 13.75% and 17.19% respectively.
In 2018, the average tradie is earning $60,217, which is on the rise and closing ground on managers earning an average $74,836.
In an interview with the Gold Coast Bulletin, Gold Coast North Chamber of Commerce secretary and plumbing company owner Gary Mays said the numbers came as no surprise.
“The demand for everyone in the trades is just enormous and just reflects the lack of training in the past 10 years,” he said.
“The reason people are not taking any more on is because the wages are too high.”
Mr Mays said it had led to a situation where the average age of tradies on the Gold Coast would probably be in the late 40s and early 50s.
“It should be late 30s.
“The growth in salaries for tradies is just showing supply and demand.
“Looking at construction sites and the number of international plasterers on the Gold Coast is astonishing.
“I’m not saying they are not entitled to the work but why aren’t we training our own?”
The data also showed that Gold Coasters making the commute to the Big Smoke were also being amply rewarded.
(source: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/lifestyle/the-government-has-released-wages-data-for-the-gold-coast-how-much-should-you-be-paid/news-story/e66106a1ac7a4884f82db8fb5e807571)
