ANZSCO 3341South Australia

PlumbersSeptember 2017

Labour Economics Office South Australia

Department of Jobs and Small Business

Current labour market ratingNo Shortage

Previous labour market rating (September 2016)No Shortage

Comments

Despite survey results suggesting the labour market for plumbers has tightened this year, employers surveyed were able to fill most plumber vacancies and overall there was an adequate number of suitable applicants per vacancy.

Survey results

  • Survey contacts were mainly employed in plumbing businesses (construction, renovation and maintenance) and roofing companies (new and restoration).
  • This year’s survey suggests the labour market has tightened with fewer vacancies filled and fewer suitable applicants than the previous two years.
  • Surveyed employers who recently advertised for plumbers filled 69 per cent of vacancies within four weeks compared with fill rates of 93 per cent in 2015 and 79 per cent in 2016.
  • Despite receiving on average 15.4 applicants per vacancy, greater than the 10.2 received in the previous survey, fewer were found suitable by employers.
  • Surveyed employers considered on average 1.6 applicants suitable for vacancies this year compared with 1.9 in 2015 and 2.9 in 2016.
  • Employers recruiting for roof plumber vacancies reported more difficulty than those filling general plumber vacancies for the second consecutive year. Average suitable applicant numbers indicate roof plumbers are more scarce but, as was the case last year, are available in the labour market. On average more than 2 applicants per vacancy were considered suitable.
  • In general across a range of plumbing vacancy types qualified and suitable applicants were available to employers advertising vacancies.

Employer requirements and unsuitable applicants

  • While there were enough suitable applicants to fill surveyed vacancies, around 90 per cent of all applicants were considered unsuitable by employers.
  • Although the vacancies surveyed required applicants to be trade qualified, employers attracted unqualified applicants. Employers also attracted some unlicensed though qualified applicants. Overall, around one third of applicants (5.2 per vacancy) were qualified.
  • Apart from a lack of qualifications, some applicants were considered unsuitable because they could not demonstrate sufficient work experience, or work experience in a specialised field of plumbing. For example, employers recruiting roof plumbers required more than two years of roof plumbing experience.
  • In some instances employers considered applicants unsuitable if their residential location was a long distance from the coverage area of the plumbing business.

Demand and supply trends

  • Over 85 per cent of plumbers are employed in the construction industry[1] and therefore occupational demand is mainly influenced by developments in this sector.
  • Overall, the construction sector in South Australia appears strong despite some recent indicators of steady activity.
  • The total value of building work done in South Australia fell slightly in the year to May 2017 compared with the previous 12-month period andwas slightly below the five year average.[2]
  • The value of work building work commenced in South Australia has increased over four successive years to May 2017, a 5.7 per cent increase compared with the previous 12 months.[3]
  • Despite the value of SA residential building approvals decreasing slightly in the year to July[4], which provides an indication of future demand, the number of building approvals remain well above the five year average.[5]
  • The value of building work yet to be done has increased by nearly a fifth in the year to March 2017.[6]
  • The major source of supply to the trade is new apprenticeship graduates who have completed a contract of training in plumbing and gas fitting.
  • From year to year, the number of plumbing apprentices who complete their contracts of trade training[7] can vary significantly. Following 2014 where the highest number of completions had been recorded since 2007, completions fell in 2015 and 2016 to the lowest number recorded since 2008. In 2017 completions were slightly above the five year average.
  • Completion results in 2015 and 2016 were likely a lagged response to a fall in commencements that occurred in 2012 and 2013.
  • Apprenticeship commencement numbers have increased since 2012 and in 2017 commencements were slightly above the five year average.

Labour Economics Office South Australia

Department of Jobs and Small Business

[1] ABS, Census of Housing and Population, 2011

[2] ABS, Building Activity, Australia, Cat. No. 8752.0, Table 16, estimates based on four quarter totals

[3] ABS, Building Activity, Australia, Cat. No. 8752.0, Table 44, estimates based on four quarter totals

[4] ABS, Building Approvals, Australia, Cat. No. 8731.0

[5] ABS, Building Approvals, Australia, Cat. No. 8731.0, Table 33, estimates based on 12 month totals

[6] ABS, Building Activity, Australia, Cat. No. 8752.0, Table 50, estimates based on four quarter totals

[7]NCVER, Apprentices and Trainees, March 2017, estimates (limited to certificate III)