Canberra residents struggle to find tradies as skills shortage hits home

When Jess Johnson’s roof started leaking last year, she thought it would be a simple matter of calling in a tradie.

“All that really needed to be done was just some replacement silicon and deck tights,” the Canberra homeowner said.

But she didn’t factor in the city’s trades shortage and five months later her roof remained unfixed.

Ms Johnson is one of many Canberrans who say they have been unable to get simple repairs completed, as the ACT construction industry faces a shortage of tradespeople and materials — leading to delays in building and repair work.

And Canberra tradies say although they have been busier than ever, they have struggled to find the staff they need to keep up with growing demand.

Some experts have blamed the…