Young tradie takes a stand against unfair pay in Australia

In Western Australia, a young apprentice named Lachlan Sgarlata brought attention to the struggles faced by tradies regarding low wages and expensive living conditions. On a Thursday after a grueling 10-hour workday in Kwinana Beach, Sgarlata, 19, took to social media to vent his frustrations, questioning the viability of a career in trades given the skyrocketing housing prices. Gregarious with sweat and donning a grimy high-visibility shirt, he conveyed how disillusioned he felt, having pursued a career based on the belief that tradies earned lucrative salaries. Despite being encouraged to become a tradie under the notion of substantial earnings, Sgarlata argued that his current apprenticeship wage is woefully inadequate, particularly when factoring in the high costs of living and leisure activities. With outings costing around $200, largely due to the price of a single beer, he lamented that these financial burdens make it nearly impossible to save for significant investments, like buying a home. As he pointed out, the average home price in Kwinana has reached $532,133, presenting a formidable barrier to homeownership. Many qualified tradespeople responded to Sgarlata’s complaints by reminding him that apprenticeships are akin to paid educational programs. They emphasized the importance of enduring financial hardships in the early stages of one's career, assuring him that career growth and cost-of-living adjustments often come after years of hard work. Those who had already navigated this journey encouraged him to view his current situation as part of a broader learning process rather than as a paycheck-driven role. Some responses to Sgarlata's post also reflected the generational differences in work ethic and experiences among apprentices. Many suggested that prudent spending habits and saving were vital to achieving financial goals, like homeownership, pointing out that previous generations had to make similar sacrifices. Detractors of Sgarlata’s perspective indicated that to succeed in trades, one must prioritize hard work, long-term investments in oneself, and resist the temptation to spend excessively on temporary pleasures. As the discourse unfolded, it underscored the challenging realities faced by the younger workforce amidst economic uncertainty and evolving expectations in the job market.