Latest news with #electricians

News.com.au
28-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Business Council of Australia calls for employer incentives to hire more tradie apprentices
A leading business industry group has called for a critical $40m fund for large businesses to boost apprenticeship programs to avoid oncoming skills shortages in key sectors like clean energy and construction. Australia has a deadline to acquire 32,000 electricians by 2030, before that figure skyrockets to 85,000 in 2050 as it seeks to transition to a renewable-powered grid. As it stands, Jobs and Skills Australia estimates a 27 per cent shortfall in the 25 years to 2050. In the lead up to the federal election, due by May 17, the Business Council of Australia called for a redesign of the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System (AAIS) to prepare small, medium and large businesses to train more apprentices and fill the critical workforce gaps. Their policy wishlist includes a baseline support package for employers of up to $4000 per apprentice for the first two years of an apprenticeship, and up to $3000 per apprentice for the final years. They've also called for additional incentives of up to double the base funding for small and medium sized businesses which can demonstrate high completion rates and a diversity of applicants. Additionally, large businesses would have access to a fund cost at $40m over four years in order to expand their existing support programs. While the incentives would apply to all industries, BCA chief executive noted that skills shortages were exacerbated across the clean energy and construction sectors, however skills shortages are more broadly reported in a third of occupations. The request follows Anthony Albanese's election pitch to give apprentice plumbers, carpenters, electricians and other fields related to housing construction a $10,000 incentive to finish their courses and boost housing completion numbers. However Mr Bran said more investment was needed to aid employers, with programs at large enterprises boasting completion rates of 90 per cent, compared to the national average of 50 per cent. 'Businesses tell me that existing employer incentives don't reflect the true cost of training an apprentice, and that means we need a new approach to ensure businesses are supported to train more people,' Mr Black said. 'Businesses play vital roles in training the next generation of skilled workers, and if employer incentives aren't increased in amount and scope, we'll see fewer employment opportunities offered, which will ultimately exacerbate our nationwide skills gaps.' NSW-based Endeavour Energy chief executive Guy Chalkley said Australia was essentially playing 'catch up' in ensuring our workforce is equipped to handle Australia's green energy transition. The company, which provides energy to parts of Greater Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and the Illawarra, trains 25 apprentices a year through their purpose-built Technical Training Centre, with members aged between 16 to 38. As it stands, Mr Chalkley said he didn't believe Australia was on track to have 80,000 electricians working across Australia. 'What's coming in a decade's time needs to be done today,' he said. 'The whole industry, and the whole world is doing that, and you're chasing the same resource at the moment because we're all going through the same energy transition. 'Part of the challenge is making sure that the infrastructure sitting behind it – TAFE, and the actual spaces and lecturers to actually accommodate the uptake.' Mr Chalkley said the extra funding would allow large businesses to better support their apprentices, while also helping companies attract more school leavers and seek overseas electricians to fill in the gaps. 'Trying to attract a 16-year-old into the industry is very hard in Sydney, from an affordability point of view,' he said. 'Similarly, if you've got a young family and you're doing a career change, you're probably going down in your earning capacity. 'So you've got to support how you're re-skilling people to make sure they do stick in the industry, so they have something that's hopefully better than what they've got at the moment, and makes them more relevant for the future.' It's understood the government will consider the BCA's proposals as part of a wider strategic review of the apprenticeships incentive system, however the program has been costed to be up to $6.5bn. Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles said Labor were committed to 'fixing the worst skills shortage in half a century,' pointing to mismanagement by the former Coalition government. 'That's why Labor is making Free TAFE permanent, and it's why we'll pay housing construction apprentices $10,000 to get on the tools,' he said. Deputy Liberal Leader and the Coalition's spokeswoman for industry, skills and training flagged further announcements from the Coalition, she said businesses no longer had the confidence to hire apprenticeships. 'If a business does not know if they are going to survive another week or another month, how can we expect them to have confidence to put on an apprentice for two to three years,' she said.


The Sun
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Seven common DIY mistakes that can invalidate your home insurance and cost up to £6,000
WHETHER you love it or not, DIY is essential if you want to keep your home in tip top shape - but some mistakes could cost you £1,000s. Forum Insurance has revealed the seven common DIY errors that can invalidate your home insurance and see you denied a claim. 1 From accidentally drilling into pipes or wiring, to improperly installed decking, it could cost you £1,000s if you're not covered. Here are the mistakes you'll want to avoid, and how much making them could cost you. Accidentally drilling into pipes or wiring - £6,600 Drilling into walls to hang up artwork or shelving is a common DIY task - but hit piping or wiring, and it could prove costly. Repairs for burst pipes can cost up to £600 while electrical damage may mean you need to rewire, costing up to £6,000. Insurers may also refuse a claim if the damage has been caused recklessly or the work was carried out by someone unqualified. To cover yourself insurance-wise, make sure your policy includes accidental damage cover. Plumbing or electrical work - £5,000 Tackling plumbing or electrical work yourself without holding the relevant qualifications can lead to trouble. Not only can it invalidate your home insurance policy, it can also prove fatal. Botched plumbing can cause water damage costing up to £5,000 to repair while poor electrical work increases fire risks which can cost £10,000s worth of damage. Always hire a registered professional to carry out any key works like this to ensure nothing goes awry. Cut car insurance costs and save money Skipping wall preparation - £3,500 Failing to properly clean, sand and prime walls before painting them is one of the most common DIY mistakes, Forum Insurance said. But it can prove the most costly if it leads to peeling, blistering and moisture damage insurers class as "preventable deterioration". Forum said with the average painter charging £500 a day, it could take a week (£3,500) for them to strip, dry, prime and repaint any walls to rectify the mistake. Make sure you always clean, sand and prime surfaces before painting, and if you're painting a damp-prone area, use moisture-resistant primers. You can pick up primer paint from Toolstation from around £12. If you've got home insurance, make sure your policy includes cover for "consequential damage" from DIY work. Improperly installing sheds or garden decking - £3,000 If you're planning on installing or repairing sheds or garden decking in time for summer, make sure they're properly anchored, meaning they're bolted to the ground securely. Don't do this, and strong winds or a storm can more easily rip them up and cause damage to your home or neighbouring properties. What is home insurance? Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals all you need to know about home insurance... Home insurance is designed to cover you in the event of fire, flood, or theft or loss of any item inside it. There are two types of home insurance policy - contents and buildings. Buildings insurance covers the cost of repairing any damage to the structure of your property which might have been caused by a fire or flooding. The "building" includes elements like your roof, walls and floors as well as permanent fixtures such as windows or fitted kitchens. Contents insurance says what it does on the tin - it covers you in case the contents of your home are damaged, lost or stolen. You can buy either buildings or contents policies separately, or combined so you are covered across all scenarios. Not all home insurance policies cover the same things though, so it's worth shopping around. You can use price comparison websites like Compare the Market, GoCompare and Uswitch. Most home insurance policies also come with an "excess" - the amount you have to pay towards a claim. Increasing your excess will see your policy go down, but means you'll have to fork out more if you have to make a claim. Many home insurance policies class any accidents occurring due to improperly bolted decking or sheds as preventable meaning you won't be covered if it happens. To protect yourself insurance-wise, ensure your policy covers damage from uninsured outdoor features. Neglecting routine maintenance - £1,500 Even not keeping on top of simple DIY tasks can end up costing you a fortune. Issues like blocked gutters, cracked walls, or damaged roof tiles can escalate into major problems if left alone. For example, water seeping into your home from clogged gutters can cost hundreds in repairs, while roof damage can cost £1,500 to fix. Insurers may reject a claim for damage caused by you not carrying out regular upkeep too. Most debris in blocked gutters can be removed yourself, but any cracked walls or damaged roof tiles may require a professional. You'll have to front up the cost to pay for any works done, but it could save you more money in the long run. Poorly securing fixtures - £1,000 Fixing a TV, shelving unit or mirror to the wall badly can lead to it falling. Not only will you be left with a broken item, but will likely have to repair the floor and wall too, which could cost you up to £1,000. Your insurer might deem you've been negligent in installing something improperly as well and not pay out. Make sure you use heavy-duty wall anchors and are using the right drill bits to not crack the wall. Check whether your insurance policy covers for damage caused by improperly secured fixtures as well. Ignoring manufacturer guidelines when installing or modifying appliances - £700 Installing or modifying common household appliances incorrectly can end up costing you £100s. Improper installation of washing machines can lead to £400 in water damage, for example. To avoid falling foul of this mistake, make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation. Employ a professional for complex jobs and keep a track of any work carried out with photos and receipts in case you need to make a claim and want to prove you've followed the right protocols.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Most in-demand tradie jobs paying nearly $3,200 per week amid crisis: 'Shining a light'
The most in-demand trades in Australia have been revealed, and concerns are being raised about what will happen if these roles aren't filled. The building and construction industries are facing a trade shortage due to a variety of factors, with electricians, labourers, and mechanics topping the list. NextMinute dug in official labour market data and SEEK job listings and found some roles are paying more than $3,100 per week. NextMinute's CEO, Alex Jenks, said this trade shortage is having devastating impacts. "They're slowing down projects, driving up costs, and putting pressure on business owners," he said. Tradie crisis exposed by $32 per hour job advert 'with no skills' required Major bank warning after ANZ customer left 'dumfounded' by cash issue Inheritance warning as 'disgruntled' Aussies left out of wills in growing trend: 'Inevitable' "By shining a light on the most in-demand trades, we hope to help employers plan better, and highlight where support or skilled migration is needed most.' NextMinute revealed there are nearly 22,000 current listings on SEEK for building and plumbing labourers. Similarly with electricians, there are more than 16,700 job ads at the moment, followed by close to 9,750 motoring mechanic roles. Plumbing and carpentry are also in hot demand as the twin industries try to keep up with the government's ambitious aim of building 1.2 million homes by and Plumbing Labourers: 21,994 job ads on SEEK with a median weekly wage of $1,634 Electricians: 16,725 jobs and $2,204 median weekly wage Carpenters: 7,737 jobs and $1,787 median weekly wage Plumber: 5,644 jobs and $2,000 median weekly wage Handypersons: 3,245 jobs and $1,307 median weekly wage Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers: 2,706 jobs and $1,755 weekly wage Cabinetmakers: 1,099 jobs and $1,216 median weekly wage Structural Steel Construction Workers: 1,008 jobs and $3,120 median weekly wage The data also included the likes of plasterers, airconditioning and refrigeration mechanics, bricklayers and stonemasons, wall and floor tilers, fencers, and concreters, however they all had fewer than 1,000 active jobs. Those roles had median salaries ranging from $1,405 to $2,019 per week. NextMinute compared the SEEK data to figures from the government and found a startling disparity. The government's numbers were far lower compared to SEEK, with official labour market data showing there are only 713 job vacancies for labourers. "The discrepancy arises because job ads often represent multiple open roles, re-listed positions, or ongoing hiring efforts, meaning official vacancy numbers may underrepresent the true hiring pressure on trade businesses," NextMinute said. With tens of thousands of jobs needing to be filled locally, there is plenty of appetite from overseas workers. The UK tops the list with more than 2,700 monthly searches for Aussie tradie jobs, followed by 860 from India, 690 from New Zealand, 530 from South Africa, and 460 from the US. Brits were most interested in roles like labouring, electricians, carpenters and plumbers, while people in India were more concentrated to handyperson jobs. 'Interestingly, the countries showing the most interest don't always align with the trades in greatest need," Jenks said. "For example, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics have over 500 official vacancies, but little international search activity, pointing to blind spots in global awareness of Australia's workforce needs'.Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data

RNZ News
15-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
NZ Trade Group put on notice over concerns around anti-competitive behaviour
NZ Trade Group (NZTG) describes itself as the leading network of electricians. Photo: 123RF A group that describes itself as the leading network of electricians has been put on notice about activity that the Commerce Commission says could be anti-competitive conduct. The commission has sent a compliance advice letter to NZ Trade Group (NZTG). Commerce Commission general manager of fair trading and credit said there were two areas of concern about the group. "The first related to the group's terms and conditions which contained a non-solicitation clause explicitly prohibiting members from actively soliciting other members' customers, employees and contractors. "The second related to the NZTG's private Facebook group. Several posts included discussions about rates, with members in some cases appearing to agree to price-match. "In both cases, the conduct raised issues under section 30 of the Act which prohibits any person entering into a contract or arrangement, or arriving at an understanding, that contains a cartel provision." The group had changed the terms and conditions of its membership and has added a banner to its Facebook group warning against discussion and conduct that could be anti-competitive. Horne said other membership organisations should take it as an opportunity to review their practices. "Trade associations, professional bodies and their members should be aware they could be held liable under the Commerce Act if conduct is shown to be anti-competitive. Penalties for breaching the Commerce Act can be severe, including potential imprisonment." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$1.46 Tn Electricians Market Opportunities and Strategies to 2034: Highly Fragmented Global Electricians Market Sees Top 10 Players Hold Just 2.59% Share, Led by Quanta Services at 0.78%
Electricians Market Dublin, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Electricians Market Opportunities and Strategies to 2034" report has been added to report describes and explains the electricians market and covers 2019-2024, termed the historic period, and 2024-2029, 2034F termed the forecast period. The report evaluates the market across each region and for the major economies within each region. The global electricians market reached a value of nearly $1.01 trillion in 2024, having grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.73% since 2019. The market is expected to grow from $1.01 trillion in 2024 to $1.22 trillion in 2029 at a rate of 3.81%. The market is then expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.76% from 2029 and reach $1.46 trillion in in the historic period resulted from the strong economic growth, growth in industrial sectors, increasing disposable income, growing demand for electrical vehicle infrastructure and aging electrical infrastructure. Factors that negatively affected growth in the historic period were rising material forward, rising residential and commercial construction, increasing urbanization, growth in renewable energy projects, infrastructure development and favorable government support will drive the growth. Factor that could hinder the growth of the electricians market in the future include lack of skilled global electricians market is highly fragmented, with a large number of players operating in the market. The top ten competitors in the market made up 2.59 % of the total market in 2023. Quanta Services Inc. was the largest competitor with a 0.78% share of the market, followed by MasTec Inc. with 0.53%, MYR Group Inc. with 0.37%, MMR Group Inc. with 0.23%, Mace Group with 0.18%, Helix Electric Inc. with 0.13%, IES Holdings Inc. with 0.12%, EMCOR Group Inc with 0.11%, Cache Valley Electric Co. with 0.09% and Cleveland Electric with 0.05%.The electricians market is segmented by service type into electric power and systems installation and servicing, telecommunications installation and servicing, electronic control system installation and servicing, fire and security system installation and servicing, highway, street, or bridge lighting and signal installation and servicing and other services. The electric power and systems installation market was the largest segment of the electricians market segmented by service type, accounting for 66.50% or $673.92 billion of the total in 2024. Going forward, the electric power and systems installation segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment in the electricians market segmented by service type, at a CAGR of 4.16% during electricians market is segmented by end user into residential, commercial and industrial. The commercial market was the largest segment of the electricians market segmented by end user, accounting for 46.93% or $502.99 billion of the total in 2024. Going forward, the residential segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment in the electricians market segmented by end user, at a CAGR of 3.96% during was the largest region in the electricians market, accounting for 35.84% or $363.24 billion of the total in 2024. It was followed by North America, Western Europe and then the other regions. Going forward, the fastest-growing regions in the electricians market will be Asia-Pacific and Africa where growth will be at CAGRs of 5.91% and 4.66% respectively. These will be followed by Middle East and Eastern Europe where the markets are expected to grow at CAGRs of 4.24% and 3.52% top opportunities in the electricians market segmented by service type will arise in the electric power and systems installation segment, which will gain $208.45 billion of global annual sales by 2029. The top opportunities in the electricians market segmented by end user will arise in the commercial segment, which will gain $99.92 billion of global annual sales by 2029. The electricians market size will gain the most in China at $59.15 strategies for the electricians market include focus on retrofit solutions to enhance system efficiency, enhancing skill development through interactive electricians training apps, strategic acquisitions driving growth and smart grid development and energy sustainability through facility strategies in the electricians market include focus on strengthening its business operations through strategic partnerships and future take advantage of the opportunities, the analyst recommends the electricians companies to focus on developing retrofit solutions to enhance market growth, focus on developing advanced training platforms to enhance skill development, focus on strategic collaborations and acquisitions for market expansion, focus on expanding manufacturing capabilities to support growth, expand in emerging markets, focus on expanding distribution channels through strategic partnerships, focus on implementing competitive and value-based pricing models, focus on targeted marketing and customer engagement, focus on strategic partnerships and cross-promotions and focus on automotive market-specific Ai Market Trends Focus on Retrofit Solutions to Enhance System Efficiency Enhancing Skill Development Through Interactive Electricians Training Apps Strategic Acquisitions Driving Growth Smart Grid Development and Energy Sustainability Through Facility Expansion Key Mergers and Acquisitions Aecon Group Inc. Acquired Ainsworth Power Construction Sojitz Corporation Acquired Freestate Electric LLC Liberty Service Partners Acquired Luminous Electric Quanta Services Acquired Cupertino Electric Inc. Criticore Expands Capabilities With Acquisition of Jenco Inc. Companies Featured Quanta Services Inc. MasTec Inc. MYR Group Inc. MMR Group Inc. Mace Group Helix Electric Inc. IES Holdings Inc. EMCOR Group Inc Cache Valley Electric Co. Cleveland Electric TELD Starcharge State Grid Corporation of China TGood ShenZhen Carenergy Net Southern Power Grid Guangzhou Wancheng Wanchong New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. NaaS Technology Inc. ABB Group Schneider Electric SE Siemens AG Bouygues Construction Caverion Corporation Elcom Ltd. Rade Konca Tedom Mister Sparky Electricians One Hour Electric Mr. Electric LLC The Electric Connection Ben Franklin Electric Inc. Curran Electric Eaton Corporation General Electric (GE) Hitachi Energy Ltd. Saudi Transformers Company Ltd. Al-Babtain Group Bboxx Ltd. Actom Group Power & Control Systems Elsewedy Electric For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Electricians Market CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data