Bill.L said:Hi all,
Likewow, perhaps the experts don't know what they are talking about either??
"With apprentice numbers at a near all time low, and a resulting apprentice shortage, there is now "a black cloud hanging over our trades", according to ETU Assistant National Secretary, John Ingram."
""We are close to an all-time high in terms of the size of the building and construction industry but an all time low in apprentices numbers."
from
http://cepu-electrical.asn.au/etu-news/september_2003/apprentices.html
Or perhaps you could take some evidence from Philip Toner??
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/natint/stories/s1012890.htm
or maybe you base your thoughts on recent political TV adds, that the ACTU claims were wrong??
http://www.actu.asn.au/election2004/news/1094019753_29252.html
good luck in waiting for cheaper trades, you'll need it.
bye
Bill,
You are good at doing Google searches and i spent years in the building industry...hmmm..you doing the theory me doing practice.
The guys in the articles are saying whatever is in their self interest, just like they and polies, unions and every peak body does. In 5 years they will be saying we need to cut apprentice numbers as trade rates are to low, just like they did when the last building slump was on.
But i thought we were talking about the cost rising of future houses, not wether brickies will be getting $400/100 in future. To add to my point, the cost of house building is approx. 40% material component and 60% labor component. Therefore the minor changes you mentioned will have a minimal effect compared to trade shortages/surplus.