Finding good staff is one of the biggest challenges facing trade business owners right now. The problem with relying only on platforms like SEEK is that they have become crowded, expensive, and highly competitive. Every plumbing, electrical, building, and landscaping company is advertising in the same place, often fighting over the exact same people. The reality is that many great tradespeople are not actively scrolling job websites every day. They are already working, using social media, and paying attention to opportunities that feel more personal and local.
Facebook has become an underrated recruitment tool for trade businesses, particularly in regional areas like Geelong. While Australia no longer has the old Facebook Marketplace jobs tab, there are still powerful ways to recruit through the platform. Business owners can post positions directly to their business page, share jobs into local trade and community groups such as ‘Geelong Tradies’ and ‘Geelong Trades & Services’, and most importantly, boost those posts to a highly targeted audience for a relatively small cost. Instead of advertising to everyone, you can target specific age groups, locations, industries, and interests that closely match the type of employee you want to attract.
Another major advantage of Facebook recruitment is that it allows potential employees to see your culture before they even apply. Tradespeople want to know what kind of team they would be joining. If your page shows quality work, good systems, team activities, apprentices learning, modern vehicles, and positive customer feedback, you instantly become more attractive than a plain text job ad on a recruitment platform. Social media gives candidates a feel for your business personality, leadership, and professionalism before the first phone call even happens.
The best recruitment strategies today are proactive, not reactive. Instead of waiting until you desperately need staff and rushing to pay large amounts on recruitment websites, trade business owners should consistently build visibility online and create a workplace people want to be part of. Facebook gives tradies a low cost, highly targeted way to stay visible in the market, connect with local workers, and recruit smarter. When used properly, it can become one of the most effective hiring tools in your business.
If you need a hand setting up a Facebook recruitment ad – please reach out.
Thanks
Hugh
0409 402 474
