Trade boss calls for thousands of apprentices to unlock industry
The boss of a niche trade association says his industry needs thousands more apprentices, and has called on gamers, sudoku lovers and martial artists to give it a crack.
Master Locksmiths Association of Australasia national president Martin Coote is calling on Australians to take up the trade amid a shortage he says is in the thousands nationally.
Coote said there were jobs available with a glut of places in TAFE courses for the niche trade that’s more than just lockpicking.
He said shortages were being driven by an aging workforce with not enough young people coming up to take over businesses and fill job vacancies.
Another problem was incorrect perceptions about locksmithing: “When people think of trades, they think of something in construction, electrical or plumbing”.
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“Their first thought isn’t locksmithing. A lot of people in fact don’t even know that we are a trade.
“Having employed many over the years, people who come into the industry as an apprentice, once they find their place in the industry, they stay for life.”
Coote said the job suits those who like solving problems or puzzles.
“It doesn’t matter if that’s a crossword, sudoku or a board game, or even gaming in general.
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“Even martial arts – a lot of my team over the years have been into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.”
“It’s the idea of having the slow burn of discipline, of following through something to its natural conclusion.”
Locksmithing has changed over the past 50 years, he said, with the trade progressing from primarily mechanical to now electronic locking mechanisms.
“There’s no let up in the mechanical side, it’s just added a new element.
“People who train these days have to start from all the basic stuff and go through the very highly complicated mechanical and electronic locking systems, automotive locking systems, safes and vaults.”
He said those wanting to enter the industry can take advantage of the three-year fully-subsidised TAFE course, plus a $10,000 incentive payment from the government.
“We need thousands of people in our industry across Australia,” he said.
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