Why young Aussie apprentices are leaving the industry en masse

For us its not so much the cost of living as it is cost of tools and I feel bad for the kids getting started that have to buy tools today. They don't even offer so much as a reach-around or lube on the tool trucks these days. From what I've seen, the quality out of the top tier tool brands isn't much better than the stuff you can buy for 1/4 the price. The cheap stuff all have lifetime warranties now too.

 

When nobody can get their car fixed they'll pay him more. Hard to imagine there's too many people getting in the trades over there, can't be much different than here. All the younger people these days want to go to college and learn a bunch of useless mush that won't do them any good in the real world. And they take on nearly a home mortgage in the process.

 

Those Snap-On tools aren’t going to pay for themselves.
Sounds like the Land of Oz is having the same issues that our country is having-costs of living and wages hasn’t kept up with inflation.
Plus from my understanding the Australian dollar has gone up in value more than the U.S. dollar.
Currently $1 U.S. dollar equals $1.49 in Australia.

With apprentices and journeymen in various trades leaving those practices that could possibly drive repair and maintenance costs up.

 

It wont be popular but the icon wrenches and sockets are dam good a small ''small'' step below snap-on . Made in Taiwan , dont confuse with china .

 

I remember decades ago when Sears Craftsman tools,along with Snap-On and Matco were the preferred “weapons of choice”!
If something broke,you just got a new one from the manufacturer,no questions asked.

 

I won't buy Snap On based purely on the fact 12 years ago I bought a nice, long handle ratchet and it gets a rebuild every few months. My Mac and Matco last forever.

 

That's what some guys in the shop where I work are using. And the HF toolboxs are good for a fraction of snap-on .