Coronavirus tradies: The winners and losers of the COVID-19 pandemic

As essential workers many tradies have continued working through the COVID-19 pandemic, but not all have seen business boom during restriction periods.

New data from tradie search website Serviceseeking.com.au found a huge swing towards DIY jobs during isolation left many tradies out of work.

In contrast, trades on the periphery of the DIY business – such as rubbish removal – experienced a sharp uptick in demand.

READ MORE: South Australia breaks 14-day streak with one new case of COVID-19

Overall job volume across the online platform was down by 15 per cent in April compared to March as Australians tightened their purse strings and bunkered down.

Jeremy Levitt, co-founder of Serviceseeking.com.au, said its often the tradies who feel the brunt of housing market changes first.

"We saw a dramatic fall in large renovation jobs month on month, down more than 15 per cent, which we think may preceed a fall in property prices," said Mr Levitt.

"Property owners typically pull back on renovating when their confidence falls."

Mr Levitt believes the data shows an odd phenomenon as a result of isolation: the desire to do handywork yourself.

"However, we saw the COVID-19 'nesting' phenomenon in full effect," explains Mr Lovett.

"With locked down home owners and renters increasing their spend on property maintenance categories like electrical services, roofing, air conditioning servicing and rubbish removal."

COVID-19 lockdown winners and losers: Trade jobs in April 2020

TRADES GAINING BUSINESS

• Air Conditioning and Heating jobs up 152.38 per cent
• Paving jobs up 99.51 per cent
• Asbestos removal jobs up 87.12 per cent
• Rubbish removal jobs up 67.85 per cent
• Fencing repair jobs up 62.46 per cent
• Electrical services jobs up 53.83 per cent
• Roofing jobs up 37.52 per cent
• Concreting repair jobs up 30.02 per cent
• Carpentry jobs up 24.61 per cent
• House Painting jobs up 9.57 per cent
• Plastering jobs up 9.18 per cent
• Plumbing jobs up 6.47 per cent
• Handyman jobs up 2.45 per cent

TRADES LOSING BUSINESS

• Cleaner jobs down -3.06 per cent
• Removalist jobs down -10.37 per cent
• Renovation jobs down -15.55 per cent
• Pest control jobs down -16.71 per cent
• Tiling jobs down -22.39 per cent
• Gardening jobs down -26.81 per cent
• Flooring jobs down -58.09 per cent

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