The Hidden Costs of DIY Hiring
In Australia's competitive trades sector, finding high aptitude apprentices has become increasingly challenging.
With 36% of occupations nationwide experiencing shortages and this figure rising to 50% for technicians and trades workers according to Jobs and Skills Australia, businesses face mounting pressure to secure top talent.
While companies attempt to manage recruitment internally, this approach often overlooks significant hidden costs and missed opportunities.
The True Cost of In-House Recruitment
When businesses handle apprentice recruitment internally, the expenses extend far beyond job advertising costs.
Consider this scenario:
A senior technical manager on an annual salary of $150,000 is tasked with recruiting just one role in their team.
Considering advertising, shortlisting, screening, interviewing, administering employment paperwork, induction and onboarding – that’s a collective time commitment of 4-8 weeks (if everything goes smoothly).
Now, balance that with that technical manager using their time to achieve operational outputs and generate revenues and you’re looking at a time cost of anywhere between $5,000 to $18,000.
According to the Society for Human Resource Management's 2023 Talent Acquisition Benchmark Report, the average cost-per-hire across industries is approximately $4,700. For specialised technical roles, and this figure can increase substantially.
These costs accumulate through:
- Lost productivity from key personnel diverted to recruitment tasks
- Opportunity costs from delayed projects and initiatives
- Resources spent on advertising across multiple platforms
- Time invested in screening, interviewing, and reference checking
- Administrative expenses associated with onboarding
A 2024 LinkedIn Workforce Report revealed that managers typically spend 30-40 hours on hiring a single position when managing the process internally – valuable time that could be directed toward core business operations.
The Power of Rich Candidate Pools
MiRecruit is a professional trade and apprentice recruitment agency with access to active job seekers and pre-screened candidates specifically interested in trades careers.
This specialised focus delivers immediate access to quality applicants that general recruitment agencies or in-house HR teams simply cannot match.
Our comprehensive vetting processes include:
- Thorough background checks and verification procedures
- Trade-specific skills and aptitude assessments
- Comprehensive medical screenings relevant to trade requirements
- Detailed reference checks with previous employers or educators
- Verification of qualifications and training certifications
A better candidate fit leads to improved retention and translates directly to cost savings, with NCVER estimating the cost of a failed apprenticeship at $25,000-$40,000.
Time is Money: The Speed Advantage
The Australian Industry Group's 2024 Workforce Development Needs Survey revealed that 72% of businesses report increasing difficulty finding suitable candidates for trade positions, with recruitment timelines extending significantly.
Traditional hiring processes typically require 24-42 days before successfully placing a candidate. Using a recruitment service focused exclusively on the apprenticeship space, this timeline can be dramatically reduced to approximately 14 days.
This efficiency stems from:
- Immediate access to pre-qualified candidates already interested in trade careers
- Streamlined medical and aptitude testing processes designed specifically for trade roles
- Established relationships with training organisations and educational institutions
- Expertise in navigating apprenticeship regulations and incentive programs
- Dedicated recruitment teams focused solely on trade and apprentice placements
The Bottom Line
While DIY recruitment might appear cost-effective initially, the hidden expenses of time, resources, and potential mis-hires significantly impact your bottom line.
Professional apprentice recruitment services offer not just candidates, but peace of mind and proven efficiency in building your future workforce.
In today's skills-shortage environment, partnering with specialists who understand the unique challenges of trade recruitment isn't just convenient – it's a strategic business decision that delivers measurable returns through faster placements, higher quality candidates, and improved apprenticeship completion rates.
