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PropertyGuide GippslandTimes
Worker shortages Liz Bell
THE high employment rate in regional Victoria is causing headaches for many Gippsland businesses, with the resulting labour shortage and ‘pick and choose’ attitude of workers leaving employers out of pocket. The story from many businesses is the same — it’s not just about finding staff, it’s finding people willing to work hard and then trying to keep them. Jim Freshwater, who works at a Bundalaguah fencing company, says he has spent the past few years trying to find suitable young workers to help him, and is turning down contracts almost daily
because of staff shortages. “I’ve estimated I’ve lost about $200,000 in work in recent months alone because I can’t get the workers,” he said. “We advertise, we use social media, we put the word out and we try everything, but they either don’t answer the ads or they come for a week or two and quit. “It’s not that hard. I'm 63 and I can do it; I reckon I’m fitter than most of these young blokes. “My feeling is they just don’t want to work — things are too easy for them.” New data from the Regional Australia Institute shows a seven per cent increase in metro movers to regional Australia, leading to a net migration
surge of 66 per cent in the March quarter. That might sound good for employers, but population growth hasn’t translated into a ready workforce. The same data shows regional job vacancies also rose, with a new record of 69,300 vacancies in May. Frustrated regional employers say despite offering good wages they are unable to meet labour demands. Mr Freshwater pays his young workers $30 an hour to help him build and repair fences. “You can’t tell me that’s not a good wage for a young person,” he said. The Regional Australia Institute cites migration as a large employment supplier, as well as
job-creator, and with COVID-19 putting much of the country’s migration on hold, it’s little wonder some employers are suffering. But regional workforce shortages are not just COVID-related. According to the Internet Vacancy Index, since late 2016 job vacancy growth in regional areas has outstripped vacancy growth in some of the largest cities. Before the pandemic, federal government data showed almost 6000 regional and rural jobs were advertised online, with Bendigo and the High Country recording the highest number of vacancies at 1700, followed by Gippsland with more than Continued page 3
Helping seasonal workers adjust
Agricultural workers from Vanuatu are getting a helping hand to navigate the often confusing rights, obligations and entitlements that come with being seasonal workers. Full story, page 7. Photo: Seasonal workers from Vanuatu, with the Reverend Denise Liersch and Don MacRaild OAM. Photo: Liz Bell
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