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Nov 17, 2025
For anyone thinking about getting into the trades, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, or any skilled craft there’s an underrated benefit that doesn’t get talked about enough: your trade can take you anywhere in the world.
In this week’s chat, Assemble Pro co-founder Keith Moore sits down to share how being a carpenter opened doors across New Zealand, Australia, and even the Caribbean, and why now might be the best time in decades to explore working abroad as a tradesperson.
Watch the full interview on our Youtube channel Here
From Local Apprentice to Global Tradesman
Keith didn’t follow the traditional college route.
“I finished school around 18 or 19 and knew college wasn’t really for me,” he explains. “I started laboring for my uncle, who was a builder, and before long, I was hooked. After a few months, I asked if he’d take me on as an apprentice carpenter and that was the start of it.”
By his early 20s, Keith was fully qualified and with his carpentry license in hand, the world opened up.
First Stop: New Zealand’s South Island
After some travel with his girlfriend (now wife), Keith landed in Queenstown, New Zealand, famous for its ski slopes and stunning mountain views.
“I walked into a local labor hire office, said I was a carpenter, and they asked when I could start. I was earning $23 an hour while most backpackers were making $6 working in bars. It was great money — and we still got to snowboard every day there was fresh snow.”
That mix of good pay, adventure, and freedom made carpentry more than just a job it became a ticket to explore.
Next Stop: Australia - A 14-Year Chapter
What started as a one-year plan turned into 14 years living and working in Sydney.
“We arrived with no tools, no contacts, just the two of us. But it was no problem finding work I started laboring, then carpentry, and before long my mate and I set up our own company: Ocean Carpentry.”
Keith explains how Irish tradespeople were especially valued:
“Back home we’re used to doing everything framing, finishing, roofing. That broad experience gave us an edge in Australia, where trades are more specialized.”
The Path to Residency: Trades on the Skilled Visa List
Keith and his wife eventually decided to stay in Australia long-term but like most expats, that meant navigating the visa maze.
“Carpentry was on the skilled occupation list, which meant we could apply for permanent residency. A builder friend signed off on my work experience and offered a position, which helped the application. We had to leave the country briefly to process the visa, but once it came through, we were back and officially residents.”
That visa opened the door for Keith to become licensed, start a business, and build a life down under.
Building Decks in the Caribbean (Yes, Really)
During the visa process, Keith spent time in the Caribbean, where he helped build a beachfront bar and cabanas.
“My wife’s aunt and uncle live down there. I spent six months building a huge deck right on the beach couldn’t have asked for a better office!”
From Ireland to New Zealand, Australia, and the Caribbean it’s a journey made possible entirely by a trade skill.
Why Tradespeople Are in Global Demand
Keith’s story isn’t unique it’s part of a global trend. Around the world, skilled labor shortages are creating massive demand for carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and bricklayers.
🇦🇺 Australia
Australia’s Skilled Occupation List includes most core construction trades.
Workers can apply for a Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) or Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) both offering pathways to permanent residency.
Regional programs even fast-track processing times for trades in shortage areas.
🇨🇦 Canada
Canada’s Express Entry system actively prioritizes trades through the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Provinces such as Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario all run Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) specifically targeting carpenters, plumbers, and electricians.
🇳🇿 New Zealand
New Zealand’s Skilled Migrant Category continues to list carpenters, builders, and electricians as essential.
The Accredited Employer Work Visa also lets employers directly sponsor overseas tradespeople.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Since Brexit, the UK has expanded its Shortage Occupation List, which includes carpenters, bricklayers, and plasterers.
Visa holders can work for approved employers and later transition to permanent residency.
🇮🇪 Ireland and the EU
Across Europe, trades are in demand due to aging workforces and construction booms.
Ireland in particular is encouraging overseas trades through new Critical Skills Employment Permits and fast-track visa options for electricians, carpenters, and masons.
The Bottom Line
For young people choosing a career path, or experienced tradespeople thinking about a new chapter, Keith’s story shows what’s possible.
“It’s transferable anywhere in the world. If you know how to build a house or fit out a room you’ll never be out of work,” he says. “And you’ll always have a ticket to explore somewhere new.”
Whether you’re dreaming of working under Sydney’s sun, New Zealand’s peaks, or Canada’s pine forests, your trade can take you there.
