Not at all! There’s an old stereotype that tradies are less academic, but the reality is that all types of people join the trades. Successful tradespeople are good at problem solving, communication and attention to detail, and enjoy doing practical work as part of a team.

When you learn a trade, you know you’re building the skills you need on the job. That’s not always true with uni degrees. In fact, up to 30% of university graduates then go into the trades, as their qualifications haven’t necessarily helped them into a vocation. Plus, trades apprenticeships mean you can earn money as you learn!

And if you’re wondering if you’ll earn less as a tradie, a recent report by economic think tank BERL found a career in the trades is just as financially lucrative across a lifetime as a university degree.