Why Job Ads Aren’t Working for Trades in 2025 (And What to Do Instead)

You’ve posted the ad.
The inbox is full.
But none of them are qualified. Half don’t reply. And the ones who do? They ghost before the interview.

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone.

We hear it every week:
“Why aren’t job ads working anymore?”
“We’ve had the ad up for weeks nothing decent.”
“We just need someone who’ll show up.”

Here’s what’s changed, what’s broken and what actually works if you want to hire trades who stick.

The Harsh Truth: Job Ads Don’t Work Like They Used To

Back in 2015, a well-written ad on Seek would bring in dozens of qualified trades. Fast forward to 2025? The market has flipped.

Here’s why job ads for tradespeople don’t perform anymore:

Skilled tradies aren’t actively looking they’re fully booked or being recruited directly.
Everyone’s using the same copy-paste ads nothing stands out.
Good candidates don’t waste time applying they get offers via referrals or recruiters.
AI-powered job boards filter badly written or vague ads into oblivion.
Job boards are flooded with underqualified, fake, or non-serious applicants.

Related: Can’t find good tradespeople

What Builders and Contractors Get Wrong with Job Ads

We review 100+ job ads per week and most of them have the same problems:

No pay transparency
No detail on project or location
Generic titles like "Labourer Wanted"
No mention of site conditions, travel, or start date
No urgency or incentive to apply now

If your ad doesn’t answer the tradie’s first 3 questions how much, where, and when it won’t convert.

Related: How to recruit trades in 2025

Why the Best Trades Never Apply

The reality is: the best tradespeople are already working.

They’re:

Being poached directly by other builders
Getting referral offers before ads even go live
Only willing to move for better pay, conditions, or long-term stability

Good sparkies, chippies, and formworkers aren’t scrolling job boards at night they’re doing 60-hour weeks, with their next gig already lined up.

So What Does Work to Hire Trades in 2025?

1. Direct Outreach to Pre-Vetted Trades

At HJ Recruitment, we don’t wait for applications. We reach out directly to the trades in our private database already reference-checked, ticketed, and site-ready.

2. Role-Specific Targeted Campaigns

We write and publish SEO-optimised job ads that rank, convert, and actually get read. Then we back it with personal outreach to passive candidates.

3. Speed and Follow-Up

The number one reason trades take another job? The hiring manager was too slow.
If you’re not booking an interview within 48 hours, they’re gone.

Still Relying on Job Boards Alone? You’re Competing Blind

Right now, you're up against:

Larger contractors offering $5–10/hr more
Specialist recruiters offering immediate starts
Labour hire firms pulling trades mid-job with cash incentives

And they’re not waiting for candidates to apply they’re already on the phone.

Related: Outsourcing trade recruitment

Here's How HJ Recruitment Fills Trade Roles Fast

We’re a construction-first recruitment company built for trades. No resume spam. No labour hire churn. Just permanent, high-quality placements.

What you get:

Shortlists in 48–72 hours
Vetted, licensed, and site-ready trades
Roles filled with minimal downtime
No risk: you only pay when you hire

📞 Want to stop wasting time on job ads? Book a strategy call now or call us on 1300 001 447.

Final Word: Job Ads Alone Won’t Build Your Workforce

If you're relying on job ads to hire in 2025, you're playing defence while others are already on the offence.

Trade recruitment now requires:

Speed
Targeted outreach
Industry-specific expertise

And that’s exactly what we do day in, day out.

Let us bring you trades that show up, stick around, and get the job done right.

Submit your vacancy here and we’ll be in touch today.

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