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If you run a trade-based business in Australia, chances are you’ve hit this hiring question more than once:
Do I bring someone on full-time or just get labour hire to cover it?
It’s a common fork in the road for businesses in construction, HVAC, manufacturing, and electrical industries. But it’s not always a clear choice and getting it wrong can cost you time, money, and team morale.
Let’s break it down simply: what’s the difference, when to use which, and how to build the right team for the work ahead.
Labour hire = You “rent” a worker from an agency for a short or long period. The agency handles the payroll, admin, super, and HR.
Permanent recruitment = You hire someone directly into your business. You’re responsible for their wages, entitlements, and ongoing employment.
Both have their place depending on what you need.
✅ Fast placements - Great when you need someone yesterday
✅ No admin - We handle timesheets, tax, super, and insurance
✅ Flexibility - Scale your crew up or down based on workload
✅ Lower upfront cost - You only pay for hours worked
✅ Trial without commitment - You can test someone out before offering a role
Best for:
✅ Team stability - Helps build culture and reduce turnover
✅ More ownership - Full-time staff are often more invested
✅ Long-term productivity - Training pays off over time
✅ Stronger loyalty - Candidates often prefer permanent jobs
✅ Cost-effective long-term - Avoids ongoing agency fees
Best for:
A national HVAC company in WA was awarded a large-scale install job across four sites. They needed 10 extra workers for 3 months but didn’t want to commit to full-time hires just yet.
We provided qualified labour hire technicians within 72 hours trade-tested, ticketed, and insured. The client scaled their workforce quickly and completed the contract on time. Once the job wrapped, no layoffs or complications.
A manufacturing client in Adelaide needed a full-time mechanical fitter to lead their maintenance program. This wasn’t a short-term job they needed someone invested, long-term, and aligned with their culture.
We recruited a candidate through our perm channel, who’s now been with them over a year and recently trained two new apprentices.
Here’s the truth: you don’t have to choose just one.
The smartest businesses use both models strategically.
The key is knowing when to switch between the two and working with a recruiter who can deliver both, fast.
At HJ Recruitment, we don’t push one model over the other.
We’ll give you honest advice, based on your workload, budget, and growth goals and then deliver people who fit.
Want to know more about how we work? Check out our About page or explore our Permanent Recruitment and Labour Hire services.
