Are electricians the most in-demand trade in Australia?

New research has revealed that Australians search for local electricians on Google more than any other trade, with an impressive 624,540 searches per year.

These findings come from online business insurance company BizCover, whose Most In-Demand Trades study analysed Google search data for over 165 trades, including the phrase “[trade] near me”.

By incorporating location data and ranking each trade based on search volume per capita, BizCover highlighted the most sought-after trades nationwide and in various regions, along with potential hourly earnings sourced from job site Indeed.

“Tradespeople are incredibly valued members of communities across Australia, and it’s interesting to pinpoint where their skills are currently most in demand,” said Sharon Kenny, Head of Marketing at BizCover.

“For those considering entering a trade or starting their own business, this data provides a valuable indicator of potential demand, highlighting significant opportunities within the sector.”

According to the data, searches for electricians represented 39% of all online trade enquiries. Carpenters came second (10%), followed by concreters (10%), roofers (9%), landscapers (6%), builders (5%) and tilers (5%).

Rank	Trade	Annual searches	Average hourly wage
1	Electrician	624,540	$49.74
2	Carpenter	158,970	$44.33
3	Concreter	157,800	$37.89
4	Roofer	153,920	$41.55
5	Landscaper	105,860	$35.15
6	Builder	87,800	$41.60
7	Tiler	80,840	$50.43
8	Plasterer	67,650	$51.28
9	Painter	65,290	$25.69
10	Cleaner	25,400	$31.44
11	Surveyor	13,260	$37.38
12	Plumber	8970	$45.85
13	Scaffolder	8740	$41.87
14	Demolitionist	8680	$49.53
15	Insulator	1480	$40.09

The most in-demand trades in Australia, according to BizCover’s research.

In the location rankings, Traralgon in Victoria was the biggest hotspot for electrician searches, with 3957 monthly searches for local electricians per 100,000 residents and an average hourly wage of $45.90. Close behind, Nowra in NSW had 3653 searches with an average wage of $46.00. Orange, also in NSW, ranked third with 3438 searches and the highest average wage of $46.71. Warragul in Victoria followed with 3024 searches and an average hourly wage of $44.61, while Warrnambool, also in Victoria, rounded out the top five with 2953 searches and an average wage of $46.15.

Rank	Most sought-after city/town	Google searches (per 100,000 people)	Average hourly wage
1	Traralgon, Vic	3957	$45.90
2	Nowra, NSW	3653	$46.00
3	Orange, NSW	3438	$46.71
4	Warragul, Vic	3024	$44.61
5	Warrnambool, Vic	2953	$46.15

The top 5 most sought-after places in Australia for electricians.

“The growing interest in renewable energy sources like wind and solar is likely fuelling demand for electricians with specialised skill sets, such as installing solar batteries and panels,” Kenny said.

“On top [of] this, a lot of Australia’s infrastructure is aging, and there is a growing need to upgrade and modernise older, heritage buildings and homes. And speaking of modernising houses, many people are integrating their homes with smart technology. Things like smart lighting, smart security systems and smart energy management systems may need to be installed and maintained by qualified professionals, which could also lead to an increase in demand.”

Nowra residents were the most likely to seek the services of a tradesperson generally, with 38,409 annual Google searches per 100,000 residents. This was followed by Orange (26,705) and Traralgon (26,345).

Nowra was also found to be the most lucrative place for many different trades, followed by Traralgon in Victoria and Victor Harbor in South Australia.

For more information, visit www.bizcover.com.au/australias-in-demand-trade-jobs/.

Image credit: iStock.com/LOUISE BEAUMONT