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    TAFE NSW Granville | 28 April 2026

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    Tradie turns skill shortage into big business

    ’Graduates like Anthony are proof that by understanding labour market shortfalls, you can use it to your advantage and carve out a career that works for you’

    Monica Lloyd, TAFE NSW Painting and Decorating Head Teacher

    A Cabramatta painter has seized the trade skill shortage and turned his passion into a small business.

    33-year-old Anthony Phonlamuang left high school without an ATAR and fell into a painting and decorating apprenticeship. Five years later, Mr Phonlamuang had already launched his own business while many of his schoolmates were still at university.

    The TAFE NSW Granville graduate is part of a growing number of young tradies owning their own business while still in their 20s. According to a recent study by Intuit QuickBooks Entrepreneurship, 66 per cent of Australians have considered starting a business or side hustle this year.

    Anthony Phonlamuang sits on a paint bucket in an undercover outdoor area with a painting tool in his hand. He’s wearing a black singlet and shorts splattered with white paint. He is surrounded by buckets of paint and painting equipment.

    With skills shortages continuing across the construction industry, TAFE NSW is providing aspiring entrepreneurs with a pathway to business ownership. Graduates are gaining the job-ready skills, experience and industry connections needed to strike out on their own.

    “After leaving high school, I didn’t know where my future was headed. I was interested in interior design but without an ATAR, I decided to enrol on a [Certificate III in Painting and Decorating] (https://www.tafensw.edu.au/course-areas/building-and-construction-trades/courses/certificate-iii-in-painting-and-decorating--CPC30620-01) at TAFE NSW Granville on a whim,” said Mr Phonlamuang.

    “As soon as I picked up a paint brush, I fell in love so I knuckled down and learnt everything I could. I even competed in the 2014 National World Skills competition, which is like the Olympics for trades”.

    “Learning on the job while getting qualified helped me learn about business. Building a solid client network where they saw me as a friend showed me how much work there was out there. It made working for myself a natural next step".

    “After ten years in business, I’m proud of what I’ve achieved and encourage my apprentices to get qualified. You never know where it may lead,” said Mr Phonlamuang.

    Monica Lloyd, TAFE NSW Painting and Decorating Head Teacher, sees one of the state’s largest employers, the construction industry, as a real opportunity for young tradespeople.

    “Graduates like Anthony are proof that by understanding labour market shortfalls, you can use it to your advantage and carve out a career that works for you".

    “Trade apprenticeships give people who might have deemed self-employment impossible a clear pathway to industry-aligned skills and worksite experience. It sets them up for future success,” said Ms Lloyd.

    Apprenticeships remain one of the most direct pathways into the workforce. The latest data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research shows 95 per cent of trade graduates were employed after training in 2025, as Australia’s labour market slows and competition for jobs increases.

    Daniel Hunter, CEO, Business NSW, says skills shortages are creating new opportunities for small business growth.

    “Skills shortages across key industries like construction are a workforce challenge, but they are also prompting skilled tradies to turn their expertise into sustainable small businesses,” said Mr Hunter.

    “We know the early years of running a business are often the hardest, which is why the right training and experience is so important. Vocational providers like TAFE NSW play a key role in equipping people with practical skills and the confidence to step into business ownership”.

    “We also need to make sure those businesses succeed, not just start. It’s encouraging to see the NSW Government bringing back a Business Connect-style advisory service, giving small business owners access to the guidance they need to establish and grow with confidence,” said Mry Hunter.

    Media contact: Holly Simpson, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, 02 7920 5000.

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