How to Recruit Trades in 2025: What Actually Works

If you're trying to figure out how to recruit trades in 2025, you already know the old playbook doesn’t cut it anymore.

Job ads aren’t performing.
Labour hire is burning through budgets.
And good tradespeople? They’re getting 3 offers a week.

In this article, we’ll show you:

Why trade recruitment is so competitive right now
Where most hiring strategies fall short
What’s actually working in 2025
How HJ Recruitment helps builders, subcontractors, and project managers hire faster and smarter

Why Recruiting Trades Is So Tough in 2025

Trades have become one of the most competitive labour markets in Australia. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, skilled trades like electricians, carpenters, and fitters remain in critical shortage across every state.

Here’s what’s making hiring harder:

A surge in civil, infrastructure, and housing projects
Low apprenticeship completion rates
Experienced trades leaving for FIFO or going out on their own
Job boards flooded with low-quality or inactive applicants

If your hiring process still relies on job ads and word of mouth you’re falling behind.

Related: Can’t find good tradespeople

What Doesn’t Work Anymore (But Most Builders Still Do)

Let’s call it out:

Job board posts with no detail on pay, roster, or scope
Chasing resumes manually while running projects
Relying on referrals from other trades who are already overworked
Hiring anyone with a pulse, hoping they’ll stick around

That strategy might have worked five years ago. In 2025? You’ll lose your best candidates before they even hit the shortlist.

What Actually Works: How to Recruit Trades in 2025

1. Be First—Speed Wins

Tradespeople don’t stay on the market for long. If you take longer than 72 hours to book an interview, you’re already out.

At HJ Recruitment, we deliver qualified, site-ready trades shortlists within 2–3 business days.

2. Use Targeted, Role-Specific Ads

Job ads still work but only when done right:

Include the job title + project type + location
Clearly list the pay rate, hours, and start date
Add relevant keywords like “FIFO”, “Formwork”, “TA”, “High-Risk Licence” to match AI job boards and Google results

Need help? We write and optimise trade job ads for our clients.

3. Vet for More Than Skills

Licences are essential—but so are soft skills.

We filter for:

Reliability and site attendance
Safety mindset
Attitude and long-term fit
Communication and crew compatibility

The result? Trades that stay longer and perform better.

4. Use a Construction-Specialist Recruiter

A generalist recruiter doesn’t know the difference between a TA and a Leading Hand.

We do.

HJ Recruitment places thousands of:

Carpenters (frame, fix-out, formwork)
Electricians (residential, commercial, industrial)
Civil labourers and operators
Fitters, boilermakers, welders
Site supervisors and HSEQ officers

We handle everything from sourcing and screening to onboarding.

What Trades Cost in 2025

Here’s what you should be offering to attract quality trades:

Labourers: $33–$40/hr
Skilled labour / TA: $38–$50/hr
Carpenters: $52–$65/hr
Electricians: $55–$65/hr
Fitters / Welders / Boilermakers: $50–$70/hr
Supervisors / Leading Hands: $90k–$120k+

💡 Want a customised rate guide? Ask our team here

Where to Recruit Trades in Australia Right Now

We’re placing trades across:

Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth
Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Geelong, Newcastle
Kalgoorlie, Townsville, Rockhampton
Regional and FIFO projects in WA, QLD, NT

Whether it’s for residential builds, commercial projects, or civil infrastructure, we have boots-on-the-ground availability.

Final Word: The Trades Are Out There You Just Need to Move Smarter

In 2025, trade recruitment isn’t about posting a job and hoping someone replies. It’s about speed, precision, and execution.

At HJ Recruitment, we help you:

Access qualified, committed trades fast
Filter out no-shows and low-quality candidates
Build a workforce that delivers without the churn

Let’s get your next role filled without wasting another week.

‍