When people think about starting a trade, there are usually a few careers that immediately come to mind: carpentry, plumbing and electrical.
At career expos, these are often some of the first trades we hear young people say they’re interested in — and for good reason. They are well-known, established career pathways with plenty of opportunities.
But they’re far from the only options.
Across Australia, there are many skilled trades that receive far less attention from school leavers and people considering an apprenticeship. Trades such as wall and floor tiling, painting and decorating, cabinet making, glass and glazing, mechanical fitting, fabrication and other engineering trades can all provide rewarding, practical career pathways.
And with Australia continuing to experience skills shortages across a range of trade occupations, encouraging the next generation to look beyond the most commonly recognised trades is becoming increasingly important.
So, if you’re considering a trade career, it may be worth asking yourself:
Have you considered what else is out there?
Wall and Floor Tiling
Tiling is a skilled trade that combines practical ability with precision, problem-solving and attention to detail.
Wall and floor tilers work across residential and commercial construction, completing everything from bathrooms, kitchens and laundries to balconies, swimming pools and large commercial spaces.
It’s a trade where the finished product is highly visible, making it particularly appealing to people who enjoy seeing a project transform through their work.
Wall and floor tiling can suit someone who:
- Enjoys working with their hands
- Has a good eye for detail
- Likes measuring and working accurately
- Enjoys seeing a tangible finished result
- Wants to work across different construction projects
Jobs and Skills Australia’s 2025 occupation shortage information identifies Wall and Floor Tiler as an occupation experiencing shortage, highlighting the ongoing need for skilled workers entering the industry.
Gimbal Training offers the CPC31320 – Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling, with apprenticeship training offered in Queensland and New South Wales and fee-for-service Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) available nationally, subject to eligibility.
Painting and Decorating
Painting is sometimes underestimated as a trade, but professional painting and decorating involves far more than simply putting paint on a wall.
Qualified painters prepare surfaces, repair imperfections, apply different coatings and finishes, work with specialised equipment and contribute significantly to the final appearance and protection of residential, commercial and industrial buildings.
For people who enjoy practical work but also have an eye for presentation and detail, painting and decorating can be an excellent career option.
It can also lead to opportunities to work across different environments and, with experience, potentially move towards supervisory roles or operating a painting business.
Gimbal Training offers the CPC30620 – Certificate III in Painting and Decorating in Queensland and New South Wales, with RPL also available nationally for eligible experienced workers.
Cabinet Making and Timber Technology
Love working with timber but aren’t sure traditional carpentry is for you?
Cabinet making and timber technology may be worth considering.
Cabinetmakers use drawings and specifications to manufacture and assemble items such as cabinetry, furniture, kitchens, vanities, wardrobes and other detailed timber products.
It combines traditional hands-on skills with modern machinery, manufacturing processes and increasingly sophisticated design and production technology.
For someone interested in construction, design, precision and timber, it can provide an alternative pathway to general carpentry.
Gimbal Training offers the MSF30322 – Certificate III in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology in Queensland, with fee-for-service RPL available nationally for eligible experienced workers.
Glass and Glazing
Another trade that doesn’t always receive the same attention at school career events is glass and glazing.
Glaziers measure, cut, finish, fit and install glass and mirrors. Their work can include windows, doors, shower screens, commercial shopfronts, architectural glass systems and other residential and commercial applications.
It requires accuracy, safe work practices, technical knowledge and strong practical skills.
For someone wanting a hands-on construction career that is a little different from the traditional building trades, glazing can be a pathway worth investigating.
Gimbal Training offers the MSF30422 – Certificate III in Glass and Glazing in Queensland, with fee-for-service RPL available nationally for eligible experienced workers.
Engineering Trades
When students hear the word “engineering”, they often immediately think of university.
But there is also an entire world of hands-on engineering trades.
Depending on the pathway, engineering tradespeople may work with machinery, metal fabrication, welding, machining, plant equipment, mechanical systems, hydraulics and industrial equipment.
These skills are used across industries including manufacturing, mining, transport, construction, infrastructure, agriculture and heavy industry.
Some of the career pathways within engineering include:
Mechanical fitting and machining
Mechanical tradespeople may install, maintain, diagnose and repair machinery and mechanical equipment.
Fabrication and welding
Fabrication trades can involve working with steel and other metals to manufacture, assemble and repair structures, equipment and components.
Fixed and mobile plant mechanics
These trades focus on the maintenance and repair of machinery and equipment used across industries such as construction, mining and manufacturing.
Gimbal Training offers a range of engineering qualifications, including:
- MEM20105 – Certificate II in Engineering
- MEM30219 – Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade
- MEM31925 – Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade
- MEM31419 – Certificate III in Engineering – Fixed and Mobile Plant Mechanic
- MEM40119 – Certificate IV in Engineering
- MEM40119 – Certificate IV in Engineering (Fluid Power)
Availability varies by qualification and state, with Gimbal Training currently offering a range of apprenticeship and RPL pathways across Queensland and New South Wales, as well as eligible fee-for-service RPL options nationally.
Why Looking Beyond the Most Popular Trades Matters
There is nothing wrong with choosing carpentry, electrical or plumbing if that is where your interests lie.
But choosing a career simply because it is the only trade you know about can mean overlooking an occupation that might suit you even better.
A student who enjoys timber and detailed work may discover cabinet making.
Someone with an eye for design and finishing may enjoy painting or tiling.
And someone interested in construction but looking for a more specialised skillset may find their place in glass and glazing.
Someone fascinated by machinery may thrive as a mechanical fitter.
Someone who enjoys welding and creating physical structures may be far better suited to fabrication.
The key is to understand that “getting a trade” doesn’t mean choosing between only three or four occupations.
There are many different skilled trades, each requiring different strengths, interests and working styles.
Explore Your Options Before Choosing Your Trade
If you’re at school, attending a career expo or thinking about starting an apprenticeship, take the time to speak with employers and training organisations from different industries.
Ask questions.
Find out what the job actually involves day to day.
Look at the qualifications available.
And most importantly, don’t dismiss a trade simply because you haven’t heard much about it before.
Some of Australia’s most important skilled occupations aren’t necessarily the ones receiving the most attention.
At Gimbal Training, we deliver nationally recognised qualifications across painting and decorating, wall and floor tiling, glass and glazing, cabinet making and a range of engineering trades. Our apprenticeship training allows eligible apprentices to complete their theory while developing their practical skills on the job, with trainers conducting workplace visits throughout their training.
For experienced tradespeople who have already developed their skills in the workplace, we also provide Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathways across a range of trade qualifications.
Whether you’re beginning your career or looking to have years of existing trade experience formally recognised, it may be time to look beyond the obvious options.