Over the past two decades, demand for custom-made jewellery and services, such as repairs, has steadily increased – with a specific spike during the COVID-19 pandemic noted.
Broadly speaking, with an ageing workforce and an inadequate amount of jewellery apprentices entering the industry each year, the trade struggles to meet this demand and the shortage of skilled workers has become alarming.
While this situation is widely known and recognised within the industry, it’s become apparent in recent weeks that government departments are unaware of the skills shortage.
As noted by the 2025 Buying Group Report, Nationwide Jewellers, Showcase Jewellers, and the Independent Jewellers Collective combine to represent more than 500 members and 600 jewellery stores in Australia.
The three buying groups are working together to campaign for the addition of ‘jewellers’ to the Occupation Shortage List (OSL).
The OSL is a program organised by Jobs and Skills Australia, a statutory body that provides independent advice on future workforce, skills and training needs.
In other words, the OSL is a publicly available tool that informs policymakers and education and training developers about the Australian economy's skills needs.
The platform lists two relevant occupations – Jewellery Designers and Jewellers – which were rated as ‘No Shortage’ from 2021 to 2024.
A spokesperson for Jobs and Skills Australia confirmed that while modelling may indicate difficulty filling positions in occupations related to jewellery manufacturing, there is insufficient evidence of a national shortage.
Confusingly, the spokesperson also indicated that this position resulted from feedback from industry stakeholders who, it is claimed, supported the ‘No Shortage’ rating for jewellery manufacturers.
This response surprised representatives of the buying groups as anecdotal reports from members paint a far different picture.
Independent Jewellers Collective CEO Joshua Zarb said the groups were joining forces to benefit the trade and lead the industry.
“We’re creating a united front to address this issue with some genuine influence because it’s something so much bigger than Nationwide, Showcase, and IJC. This is a common goal for the future of the jewellery industry,” Zarb told Jeweller.
“Speaking to our members, we know it is ridiculously difficult for jewellery stores to find apprentices and new jewellers. It’s been that way for as long as I can remember, particularly for businesses based in regional communities.”
He added: “Anything we can do to support local apprentices and strengthen the jewellery market is of huge importance to all three groups.”
Word on the street?
To address this issue, the buying groups conducted a member survey and the results highlighted the desperate need for additional jewellery manufacturing support.
More than 100 buying group members responded to the survey, and while the results may be obvious to those intimately familiar with the trade, they are revealing.
Of the jewellery businesses that participated in the survey, three-quarters (75 per cent) said they do not currently employ an apprentice.
Around 87 per cent of jewellery businesses suggested that employing a new trade jeweller was ‘very difficult’ or ‘extremely difficult’, while 75 per cent of respondents find it ‘very difficult’ or ‘extremely difficult’ to employ a new apprentice.
This research also confirmed the increasing demand for custom-made jewellery and services such as repairs, underlining the importance of introducing new apprentices to the trade.
Broadly speaking, three to four weeks is considered an acceptable turnaround time for completing and delivering a newly designed and manufactured jewellery item.
The survey found that around one-third (34 per cent) of respondents were willing to concede that they were unable to meet this industry benchmark three years ago.
Today, it’s clear that the situation has worsened, with 63 per cent of respondents indicating that this work cannot currently be completed within four weeks for customers.
On a weighted average basis, the average jewellery store sends out 54 repair or manufacturing jobs to external jewellers each month.
Unsurprisingly, almost all (96 per cent) of respondents anticipate the need to provide substantially more hours of jewellery manufacturing services in the next 12 months.
Looking ahead to the next three years, 70 per cent of respondents forecast a need for 20 hours or more per week of jewellery manufacturing services.
Nationwide Jewellers managing director Colin Pocklington said these findings are deeply concerning.
“It’s critical for the future of the industry that this shortage is acknowledged and addressed,” he said.
“Consumers are facing steadily increasing waiting times for custom-made jewellery. If this continues, these consumers will eventually pursue overseas options, essentially taking jobs away from local businesses.
“Furthermore, the increasing demand on local businesses is encouraging jewellers to work long and unhealthy hours. Many are taking work home with them to try and keep up.”
Pocklington continued: “It’s good that this demand exists and local consumers know that Australian-made jewellery is high-quality; however, steps must be taken to ensure local businesses can keep up.”
It’s worth noting that this survey targets the critical aspect of a broader market for jewellery repairs. Jeweller’s 2024 State of the Industry Report found around 1,200 chain stores in Australia, compared with around 2,000 independents.
While chain stores represent a significant aspect of the market, these businesses traditionally refer repair work to nearby independents.
In other words, chain stores are focused on mass merchandising rather than repairs, meaning this survey represents insight from the key service providers.
This feedback seems to be clear – there’s far greater demand than supply, and issues around introducing new jewellers to the workforce are long-running which hasn’t been adequately addressed.
The end game?
It’s hoped that by addressing the shortage via the OSL, jewellery apprentices will become eligible for government subsidies offered by bodies such as Apprenticeships Australia.
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations works with providers to provide support for apprentices, trainees, and their employees from start to finish.
These include priority hiring incentives, reimbursements for training and education, and various subsidies and allowances to help with cost-of-living pressures during training.
Showcase Jewellers managing director Anthony Enriquez said that connecting apprentices to businesses where they can learn directly from experienced jewellers was critical for the future of the trade.
“The first step towards solving any problem is acknowledging that it exists. There’s an unhealthy amount of pressure on the jewellery industry, which needs to be addressed,” he said.
“Jewellery manufacturing is a unique and specialised skill that combines artistry with technical ability. The demand for custom-made pieces is consistently increasing, and the industry needs more jewellers.
“Everybody needs to start somewhere, and businesses need more support to help young people enter the industry.”
It’s also interesting to note that the Australian Government is urging consumers to purchase locally manufactured products as part of the 2025 Federal Budget with a $20 million investment in the ‘Buy Australian Campaign’.
Enriquez, Zarb and Pocklington will meet with representatives from Jobs and Skills Australia in the coming weeks to address this matter further.
Buying Group MEMBER Survey - KEY INSIGHTS
Three to four weeks is considered a reasonable turn around time for completing and delivering a newly designed and manufactured piece of jewellery to customers. Three years ago, 34 per cent of respondents were not able to meet this industry benchmark. |
Ratings 7 to 10 in the graph show that 75 per cent of jewellery businesses find it very to extremely difficult to employ a new apprentice jeweller. |
Ratings 7 to 10 in the graph show that 87 per cent of jewellery businesses find it very to extremely difficult to employ a new trade jeweller. |
More reading
State of play in 2025: Australia’s Independent Jewellery Landscape
Showcase Jewellers | 2025 Buying Groups Report
Independent Jewellers Collective | 2025 Buying Groups Report
Nationwide Jewellers | 2025 Buying Groups Report
Nationwide Jewellers raises much-needed support for apprentices
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