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When anyone can lay bricks, proof of skill is your edge: a note for Zimbabwean bricklayers

News · 2026-08-24 · 4 min read

Here is a surprising fact for bricklayers in Harare and Bulawayo. In the ACT, bricklaying is not a licensed occupation, so anyone can legally lay bricks on a commercial or residential site without proving a qualification. The same region has only seven people training for the trade. Together, those facts say something about what employers need from you: evidence you can do the work.

A market short of reliable people

The construction workforce in the ACT has grown by 10 per cent while apprentice numbers fell by 20 per cent. Experienced tradespeople are often well past the age when many of their peers retire. One founder of a bricklaying business, who has run it for over two decades, says he is not short of work but of anyone reliable to put on the trowel.

The ACT government has committed to 30,000 new homes by 2030. That kind of target needs far more trained hands than seven apprentices can supply.

The quality problem behind the opening

A trainer with 30 years in construction sees inconsistent workmanship on the sites she visits, from people who were never properly trained. That is a problem for the industry. For a trained bricklayer it is also an opportunity, since properly qualified people stand out. But no licensing system will do the sorting for an employer, so the sorting comes from you.

Show your skill, step by step

1. Collect your ZIMSEC results and any HEXCO certificates, and note the dates and institutions. A HEXCO certificate does not automatically equal an Australian licence or skills assessment.
2. List the jobs you have worked on: type of building, scale, materials and your role.
3. Photograph your finished work, with permission where needed.
4. Ask past employers for short written references.
5. If a police certificate is requested, the usual Zimbabwean document comes from the Criminal Record Office.
6. Speak to an agent registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) about which visa routes fit your trade, and agree the price of the advice.

Bring it together in a short, specific CV. Build AI CV is one tool for that.

Why the shortage is built to last

• The training pipeline depends on residential building, which is soft, while commercial and infrastructure work such as light rail keeps demand for labour high.
• More apprentices start than finish, in part because the work is physically demanding and early years involve a lot of labouring.
• On many sites, tradespeople over 40 are the norm.

Employers who openly acknowledge a skills gap tend to hire faster, be more willing to sponsor and face less competition for placements, though that is a tendency, not a promise.

Reading the signal from Zimbabwe

Markets rarely stay this undersupplied by accident, and they rarely stay this undersupplied for long. A visible skills gap that employers openly acknowledge, combined with low regulatory friction for entry, can shorten the time between arriving and earning. It also means you carry the job of demonstrating your qualifications and experience clearly, because the local system will not filter applicants for the employer. Treat the shortage as encouragement to prepare, not as a reason to hurry.

Common mistakes when you rely on a shortage

• Assuming the absence of a licence in one territory removes every check.
• Arriving with experience you cannot document.
• Expecting the work to be easy because demand is high.
• Taking advice from someone who is not registered.

You may also like why skilled tradespeople are a migration fast track, Australia's tradie shortage and trades as migration pathways.

Frequently asked questions

Does no licence mean no checks?

Not for migration. The local rule concerns who may lay bricks, while a visa may still ask you to show qualifications and experience.

How many trainees are there?

Only seven people are training to become bricklayers in the region.

Why is the shortage likely to continue?

A soft residential sector shrinks apprenticeships, retention is poor and the workforce is ageing, while a target of 30,000 homes by 2030 keeps demand up.

Is the work hard?

Yes. Apprentices in Canberra will tell you it is genuinely demanding physical work.

Where do I get reliable advice?

From an agent registered with MARA for Australia, or a licensed immigration adviser or lawfully exempt person for New Zealand. Advice is a paid service, so ask the cost first.

Key takeaways

• Bricklaying is not licensed in the ACT, and only seven trainees are in the region.
• Construction grew 10 per cent while apprentice numbers fell 20 per cent.
• Employers value proof of skill because workmanship varies without it.
• A HEXCO certificate does not automatically equal an Australian licence or assessment.
• Prepare evidence and use registered advice.

#bricklayers #trade qualifications #construction #australia #zimbabwe