Blacksmiths, watchmakers and stonemasons are the olden day workers now in high demand

Learning a skill from the olden days is paying off for savvy jobseekers who have never been in higher demand.

The skills of yesteryear are still desperately needed today but a lack of awareness means few people are training for what are often very lucrative careers.

Blacksmithing, stone masonry and even watch and clock repair may be niche industries but they are crying out for more tradespeople.

Such is the demand that experts say workers can virtually name their price, with many people offered jobs before they qualify in their trade.

“Stonemasonry is a very well paying trade, which I don’t think many people realise,’’ says Trisch Baff, chief executive of FCTA – Building Careers, which offers a certificate III stonemasonry qualification.

“There’s a bit of a romantic view of what a stonemason is.

“People think they will be carving roses into stone but it’s physically demanding – we’re not using power tools, we’re using a chisel.’’

The tools of the trade for many traditional jobs cannot be plugged into a power point.

A chronic shortage of stonemasons across Australia has forced employers to turn to workers who have some experience but have not yet completed their qualifications.

Despite this, two-thirds of vacancies still remain unfilled, the Federal Government’s latest skills shortage report for the profession states.

Watch and Clockmakers of Australia president and TAFE NSW teacher Trent Firth says watch repairers are also in high demand, as more people are prepared to pay thousands of dollars for timepieces that will eventually be handed down to future generations.

Firth, who is Australia’s last remaining full-time teacher of watchmaking, says unlike other trades that take a hard physical toll on workers, watchmakers enjoy career longevity.

“It’s not a dirty trade,” he says.

“You can continue to work at the bench until you’re 80.

“I still learn something new every day and there’s not many trades where you can do that.

“Every watch has a story to tell.’’

Stoli Baker is part way through his blacksmithing qualification and is already employed by the Everleigh Works railway workshop in Victoria.

TAFE NSW welding and blacksmithing teacher Lindsay Cole believes nostalgia often prompts people to learn skills from a bygone era but says more workers are still needed.

He says increased interest in renovating heritage homes has seen a growth in demand for blacksmiths, as have motoring and other hobbyists seeking custom-made parts to repair items no longer in production.

“If you didn’t have people going through these types of (traditional skills) courses, the future would be pretty bleak’’ Cole says.

He says demand for blacksmiths can grow further if local manufacturing output increases as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Stoli Baker is part way through his blacksmithing qualification and is already employed by the Everleigh Works railway workshop, which is home to the largest collection of Victorian blacksmithing equipment in the western world.

“There are so many aspects of the industry that simply can’t be done by anyone else so I’m not worried about job prospects,’’ the 27-year-old says.

“My biggest concern is that people won’t pursue the qualification and the trade expertise will be lost.’’

Originally published as Blacksmiths, watchmakers and stonemasons are the olden day workers now in high demand