My husband has just got cold feet after reading a thread on the expat site about work for the over 45's.

"About half of all Australians aged over 45 are out of work. And they are staying unemployed for longer periods than ever."

Question: Is it really as bad as this?

He is prepared to work hard and will have a go at most things, but is now worried we will move to Aus and he won't ever get a job! :sigh: :sigh: :<!--emo&cry baby:--><!--endemo-->

Anyone got any views, opinions?

There's plenty of work here in Adelaide especially for certain skills i.e people in the health care profession - nurses, doctors, dentist's. Then there's a shortage of skilled toolmakers, fitters, plumbers, electicians and even chefs, all of these jobs are found each week in the Adevertiser - www.careerone.com.au jobs website very useful for your husband to look at and see if his profession is in demand. As we are only in our 30's I can't really comment on the over 45's job situation but like I say some skills are needed here and are in demand so it just depends what your hubby's trade is.

Hope this helps, difinately look on the career one site

Juls :dancing dog:

I think this is the key phrase!

If you come expecting to slot in and do whatever it was you were doing....same level....same wages etc, you may well find it difficult

If you are willing to adapt and try new things, broaden your expectations etc, I can't see you going too far wrong!

Andy

Besides....you're probably past that critical point now, where you have to do something, or "what if....." will haunt you for ever!

I found the website that says 50% are unemployed what the person didn't add was that this covered everyone over 45 (meaning everyone from 45 upto 150!) :o . On another website I found the figure to be 5.2% unemployed between 45-54 years old, I hope this settles your hubbies nerves. :)

What I can make out is that it seems the same as it is over here. As you get older you will find it harder (not impossible) to find a job but this is due to the time factor. I think Andy is very right in saying just go out there without any expectations and just go for it.

My hubbie is 41 this year and we have already been searching the job pages. We have even sent a few emails off to potential employers, explaining that we are applying for visas etc, and a couple of them want us to contact them on arrival. Maybe this is something your hubbie can do.

Sasha :)

Kirkbygirl and Sasha, what do the fellas do now? :loopy:

Lyn

Mine is a panel beater by trade but he's also a 360 excavator driver (working on civil engineering sites). We are applying through his panel beater trade as this is in demand and apparently anyone can jump on an excavator and drive it!!!!! :loopy: so it isn't a trade they recognise.

We have found that by searching there seem to be more jobs for excavator drivers than panel beaters and the money looks better so he may go down that route but as we may have to go down the route of state sponsorship we weren't too sure if this would be allowed.

We are lucky that he can prove that he has worked in both so we have more options open to us.

Sasha :)

No probs on getting a job, i was a plater /welder when we came. Stayed in the trade 2.5 years, never been back to it. Now i make plastic drink bottles. This is my third job in 13 years of being in Adelaide, fourth in 30 years, i'm 46 now.

Stevo and Lynsie :cool shake:

hi

my hubbies a knitting machine mechanic. he has got quilifications in this proffesion but its not exactly a recognised skill in oz!!

you probably know im going over as a nurse, but we feel he will need a job at some level.

kirkbygirl

:dancing dog: medium 103

He will have no probs, as long as he gets something to use as a stepping stone, until he finds something better.

Steve and Lynsie :cool shake:

Bump.......Here you go Mastermind.

Sasha :)

Very helpful!
Thank you Snappy :) :) :)

Cheers

Fred