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A study conducted by one of Australia’s leading plumbing and bathroom suppliers Reece reveals major changes in the industry. More than 40% of Reece’s Australian customers, mainly plumber businesses, said that their business has dramatically changed within the last ten years:

1. Their job has become much faster but also complex as technologies and products have advanced. Another main reason for complexity is seen in more state regulations.
2. The increased complexity leads to a higher need for specialisation.
3. Entering the online age has dramatically changed the way tradesmen price, quote and invoice. One could add that social media has heated up this trend.
4. Environmental issues have gained a bigger importance. Today’s plumbers need to know about sustainable products, their requirements and how to install them.
5. There is a massive skill shortage in Australia and lots of experience and knowledge of older plumbers is lost. This implies that training and finding talented Australian apprentices has become vital for the industry.

In particular, plumbers’ contribution to preserving the environment has changed their skill profile. In a country like Australia that has been massively affected by climate change plumbers have key roles in sustainability efforts through helping the community to save energy and water. As a contribution to this changed perception the Master Plumbers’ and Mechanical Services Association of Australia (MPMSAA) already founded the “Green Plumbers Award.”

The effects of drought and the need to dampen the effects of climate change have created a nationwide increased demand for plumbers and their skills. An analysis for the Victorian government points out that “Over the next five to ten years, there is a clear risk of a large gap between demand and supply of plumbers, in particular a shortfall of plumbers with green plumbing skills”.

Beside learning trade skills apprentices must also be trained to counsel their future customers about new products like hot water units, water tanks or water recycling units. However, finding new clients doesn’t seem to be an issue for plumbers and they are said to be one of the best paid trades of all.

Image by jooanfossi.