ANZSCO 3312Queensland

Carpenters and JoinersSeptember 2017

Labour Economics Office Queensland

Department of Jobs and Small Business

Current labour market ratingRecruitment Difficulty

Previous labour market rating (September 2016)No Shortage

Comments

While the majority of vacancies for carpenters were filled, joinery vacancies attracted fewer suitable applicants and a number of joinery vacancies remained unfilled four weeks after being advertised.

Survey results[1]

  • Overall, 79 per cent of vacancies for carpenters and joiners were filled within four weeks of advertising, compared with the 85 per cent fill rate recorded in last year’s survey.
  • Employers were able to fill 87 per cent of their vacancies for carpenters; however, only40percent of vacancies for joiners were filled.
  • The proportion of vacancies filled for both regional (89 per cent) and metropolitan (60 per cent) areas were lower than last year which recorded 100 per cent and 67 per cent respectively.
  • On average, there were 5.1 applicants per vacancy in this year’s survey, the lowest number reported since 2009 and around one third of the numbers recorded in each of the previous three years.
  • Regional vacancies attracted an average of 4.1 applicants per vacancy, compared with 14.2applicants in 2016.
  • For the metropolitan area of the state there was an average of seven applicants per vacancy, also less than half the number of applicants reported last year (15.6).
  • There was an average of 3.2 applicants per joinery vacancy compared with 5.5 for carpenters.
  • On average, there were 3.4 qualified applicants per vacancy, around one third of the numbers reported in 2015 and 2016.[2]
  • Overall, there was one suitable applicant per vacancy, compared with 1.5 suitable applicants in 2016.
  • Vacancies for joiners attracted less than one suitable applicant per vacancy while carpentry positions attracted an average of 1.1 suitable applicants per vacancy.

Unsuitable applicants

  • Overall, around 67 per cent of applicants were qualified but 57 per cent of these were considered unsuitable.
  • The majority of qualified yet unsuitable applicants did not have relevant experience, failed work trials or did not satisfy the employers’ work standards.
  • Some applicants lacked skills in restoration, having experience only with new houses.
  • Other applicants lacked leadership experience for leading hand or foreperson positions.
  • In some instances, applicants were not hired because they were unable to reach agreement concerning remuneration.

Demand and supply trends

  • While carpenters and joiners are employed in both the manufacturing and construction industries, demand for these trades is highly dependent on the level of activity in the construction industry.
  • Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows that the seasonally adjusted total value of building work done in the year to June 2017 was around $20.05 billion, a decrease of 1.06 per cent over the previous year but 15.92 per cent higher than the year to June 2012.[3]
  • The majority of this work (around 67 per cent)[4] was in the residential sector, particularly in the construction of new apartments. The value of new residential building work done in Queensland increased by almost 84 per cent between June 2012 and June 2017, although the rate of annual growth slowed to approximately 7.5 percent in the twelve months to

June2017.[5]

  • The Department of Jobs and Small Business‘s Internet Vacancy Index data shows the average number of carpenter and joiner vacancies advertised online in Queensland increased by around 80 per cent between 2013 and 2016 but then decreased by around eight per cent in the 12 months to September 2017.[6]
  • Formal entry-level training for this occupation is usually through the completion of an apprenticeship in Shop Fitting, Carpentry or Joinery.
  • Figures from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) show that commencements in relevant apprenticeships increased by around 56 per cent between 2013 and 2016 then dropped by almost six per cent in the twelve months to March 2017.[7]
  • Completions dropped by almost 43 per cent between March 2012 and March 2013 and, after a small increase in 2014, continued to fall in subsequent years to March 2017.[8]
  • The number of primary applicant 457 temporary skilled migration visas granted for carpenters and joiners was under 45 for the three years 2014 to 2016. This number decreased to less than five for the 12 month period to 30 September 2017, indicating that migration is a minor source of supply for these occupations.[9]

Labour Economics Office Queensland

Department of Jobs and Small Business

[1] The methodology underpinning this research is outlined at Skill Shortage Research Methodology | Department of Jobs and Small Business - Document library, Australian Governmentand can also be accessed by the QR code.

There is a break in the time series of the average number of qualified applicants per vacancy at July 2017 due to a change in the methodology.

[3]ABS, 8752.0 - Building Activity, Australia, Jun 2017 - Table 02 Value of Building Work Done by Sector, States and Territories – Chain Volume Measures (seasonally adjusted data)

[4] Ibid

[5]ABS, 8752.0 - Building Activity, Australia, Mar 2017 - Table 24 Value of Residential Building Work Done by Sector, Queensland (seasonally adjusted data)

[6] Department of Jobs and Small Business, Internet Vacancy Index, September 2017, 12 month moving average

[7]National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), Apprentices and Trainees, March 2017, estimates (limited to Certificate III qualifications)

[8] Ibid

[9]Department of Home Affairs, Subclass 457 Visa Grants Quarterly Pivot Table 30 September 2017