How is the economy affecting you?

[russxr67]

I work for myself in the construction industry as a ceramic tiler in Perth and have been self employed since 1988. I have never seen things so quiet on the work front in all my years.
Used to get around 10-15 calls a week thru the Yellow pages but that has trickled down to about 3 a week. Been quoting on jobs but not getting many as i am obviously being undercut. I value my work as being better than most in my profession but it seems atm that people are not interested in quality work ,just a bottom dollar figure. He who gives the lowest quote seems to get the job.
I refuse to bastardize my rates . I have moved them down accordingly but I refuse to work for wages. I have an apprentice as well in his second year and if things don't improve will have to lay him off. Anyone who has their own business will sypathise with this. It costs a truck load of money to have people work for you.


One of the biggest problemswe have is that the market is being inundated with offshore workers here on temporary visa's. They are working for some builders at rates that local guy's cannot compete with. I think the government needs to step in and send these people back home to protect what little work is filtering thru. In good times i can understand the need for these extra workers but the reality is they are no longer needed and don't spend any of their hard earned here.
Go home ,and let the local's who spend their money here enjoy the lifestyle we are accustomed to.

Thoughts and experiences welcome.
Russ