Hiring Full-Time Tradespeople vs Using Subcontractors What’s the Smarter Move?
If you’re managing construction projects, HVAC contracts, or commercial maintenance work in Australia, there’s one decision that can make or break your delivery:
Should you build a full-time team, or rely on subcontracted trades?
Each model comes with benefits but also major risks. The wrong approach can cost you thousands in overruns, missed deadlines, or compliance penalties.
In this guide, we compare full-time trades hiring vs subcontractor engagement so you can make a clear, confident decision for your next job.
What’s the Difference?
- Subcontractors (or “subbies”) are independent tradespeople or small teams you bring in per project. They invoice for completed work, manage their own insurance, and may work for multiple companies at once.
- Full-time tradespeople are employed directly by your business. You handle payroll, scheduling, and compliance. They represent your brand every day and can be deployed across multiple jobs.
Pros of Using Subcontractors
- Quick to engage ideal for project-based work or overflow
- No super, payroll, or entitlements lower admin load
- Flexibility scale your team up or down as needed
- Useful for specialised tasks bring in niche skills for short stints
Cons of Using Subcontractors
- Higher hourly/daily rates
- Lower reliability they may take better-paying jobs elsewhere
- No control over how or when they work
- Compliance risks liability can fall on you if they lack insurance, licences, or safety procedures
- Weaker team culture no long-term investment in your business
We often hear from clients who lose subcontractors mid-job or suffer delays because “the sparkie’s on another site.” Sound familiar?
Pros of Hiring Trades Full-Time
- Loyalty and consistency full-time trades show up, deliver, and represent your business
- Lower long-term cost per hour
- Better control you set schedules, processes, and performance expectations
- Improved safety and compliance consistent inductions, site protocols, and accountability
- Stronger brand reputation your team reflects your standards
Cons of Hiring Full-Time
- More responsibility super, insurances, leave, payroll
- Upfront commitment you carry wage obligations even if work slows
- Slower to scale less flexible during rapid changes
- Need to recruit carefully the wrong hire can affect team performance
That said, hiring doesn’t have to be a headache. At HJ Recruitment, we manage the entire process from sourcing to reference checks so you get fully licensed, job-ready tradespeople without the stress.
Explore our trade recruitment services
Cost Comparison: Subcontractors vs Full-Time Trades
Let’s break it down in real terms.
Say you’re hiring a plumber for 6 months of commercial fit-out work:
- Subcontractor: $85–$100 per hour (incl. margin, tools, insurances)
- Full-time employee: $60–$65 per hour + super (effective cost ~$70/hr)
While subcontractors seem more convenient short term, hiring full-time often delivers better value and quality over longer projects.
Common Risk: Subbies Without Insurance or Licences
You’re still responsible for safety and compliance on your site even when using subcontractors.
At HJ Recruitment, we regularly hear stories of subcontractors:
- Turning up without valid licences
- Working without public liability insurance
- Failing to follow SWMS or site rules
- Walking off the job due to “better offers”
With permanent hires, especially when sourced through a recruitment agency, you gain full visibility into licensing, references, and risk.
Learn how we vet trades candidates
When to Use Subcontractors
Using subbies can be the right choice when:
- You need a short-term specialist for a defined scope
- Your workload is unpredictable
- You’re covering temporary staff leave
- You’re trialling a new service or region
When to Hire Tradespeople Full-Time
Full-time hiring is ideal when:
- You want to build a reliable, loyal workforce
- You’re managing multiple projects or ongoing contracts
- You want better control over quality and compliance
- You’re growing your brand and need trades who represent you well
- You want to reduce long-term costs and team turnover
Our Recommendation at HJ Recruitment
For most of our clients across construction, HVAC, plumbing, and industrial maintenance, a core team of full-time tradespeople delivers the best long-term results.
You gain:
- Faster response times
- Better client relationships
- Lower error rates and rework
- Stronger internal culture
- Reduced hiring churn
We also support clients who balance both models a full-time team for consistency, and subcontractors for overflow, short-term, or niche work.
Need help building your core team?
Talk to our team for job-ready tradespeople across Australia.
Final Thoughts
Subcontractors give you speed and flexibility. Full-time tradespeople give you control, consistency, and long-term value.
In many cases, the real cost of constantly replacing unreliable subbies far exceeds the cost of investing in permanent staff.
At HJ Recruitment, we help you hire tradespeople who show up, stay, and perform.
Let’s help you build the team that takes your projects further.
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