Electricians, plumbers charging 300 per cent more for services as Covid pandemic strains industry

Tradies charging FOUR times their usual rates as demand soars with thousands stuck in Covid-19 isolation

  • Tradies caught charging customers 300 per cent extra for their services
  • Covid-19 pandemic and isolation rules have been blamed for the price gouging
  • Jim’s Mowing boss Jim Penman said he was turning thousands of clients away 


Tradespeople are charging customers up to 300 per cent more as demand soars and Covid isolation rules spark a shortage of workers.

Airconditioning technicians, plumbers, and electricians are among the trades services that have been caught hiking up their prices.

Jim’s Mowing boss Jim Penman said he had never witnessed so much demand with his workers forced to turn down clients because they were too busy.

Jim’s Mowing boss Jim Penman (pictured) said he had never witnessed such a high level of demand with his workers forced to turn down clients

Tradespeople are charging customers up to 300 per cent more for their services as demand soars and Covid isolation rules spark a shortage of workers (stock image)

Tradespeople are charging customers up to 300 per cent more for their services as demand soars and Covid isolation rules spark a shortage of workers (stock image)

‘We’ve had to knock back 328,000-plus requests for service and in November and December, around half the people who rang, we just couldn’t help as we couldn’t keep up with the demand,’ he told News Corp.

Mr Penman blamed the Covid-19 pandemic for the unprecedented demand with closed borders and lockdowns prompting homeowners to take on more DIY projects.

‘The government has been putting plenty of money into the economy, and we can’t go on a trip, so we tend to spend our cash around the house,’ he said. 

Mr Penman said demand outstripped supply with Covid isolation rules crippling the industry and leading to a shortage of workers.

Supermarkets and other shops are among the businesses hit the hardest.

Woolworths said one in five workers in its distribution centres and one in 10 retail staff were absent, leaving not enough to restock shelves.

Photographs of vegetable and fruit displays and meat, poultry and dairy sections cleared out alarmed Australians in past weeks. 

Mr Penman has blamed the Covid-19 pandemic for the unprecedented demand with closed borders and lockdowns prompting homeowners to take on more DIY projects (stock image)

Mr Penman has blamed the Covid-19 pandemic for the unprecedented demand with closed borders and lockdowns prompting homeowners to take on more DIY projects (stock image)

Supermarkets and retail stores are among the industries that have been hit the hardest

Supermarkets and retail stores are among the industries that have been hit the hardest 

The shortages prompted the NSW Government to allow essential workers in the food, logistics, and manufacturing to leave their close contact isolation if they don’t have any Covid symptoms.

Mr Penman said the trade industry was always on the lookout for more workers.

‘I think one of the problems is that not enough Australians are going into the trades – a lot of the people we’ve put on are new migrants, which is great,’ he said.

‘But people spend years training to be a doctor or a lawyer, but actually quite a few people from those backgrounds end up mowing lawns as they can make as much money but with a better lifestyle.’

Mr Penman said customers could avoid price gouging by doing their research and asking for quotes from multiple businesses – instead of accepting the first offer they are given.

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