In five years the industry has lost up to 100 qualified bricklayers, from 300 in 2008 to 200 last year.

Housing Industry Australia state executive director Stuart Clues said the continuing shortage would be caused by an ageing bricklayer workforce, and a lack of new people wanting to learn the trade.

Concerns are heightened because brick homes are still the most popular choice for Tasmanians.

"The average bricklayer is pushing 45 to 50, and they are looking towards the second part of their career and moving on," Mr Clues said.

"The younger blokes seem reticent to get in and get their hands dirty."

Veteran bricklayer Max Groenewege, who has been in the trade for 37 years, said many of the experienced bricklayers he knew on the North-West Coast were close to 55 years of age.

"Some of them have already retired and some have already moved on," Mr Groenewege, of Somerset, said.

"Quite a few apprentices bail out too, after 12 months or two years, because it is not what they wanted, or it just might be too hard."

Mr Groenewege said when he began formal training in Hobart, he started with 40 new apprentices.

Last year the Skills Institute received just eight new apprentices.

There are 33 first, second, third and fourth year apprentices in Tasmania, with 11 from the North and nine from the North-West.

Tasmanian Building and Construction Industry Training Board chief Simon Cocker said incentive schemes were used to encourage employers to take on new apprentices.

Australian Brick and Blocklaying Training Foundation general manager Geoff Noble said his group ran year 10 taster bricklaying programs in Tasmanian schools.

"We want to attract young people who are ambitious. If you want to become a builder, or construction worker, this is your career path starting here," Mr Noble said.

•For more information, visit becomeabricklayer.com.au