Employers in South Australia's Riverland region are struggling to fill job vacancies as a business boom following the pandemic has increased the need for extra staff and opened up local growth opportunities.
Key points:
- Riverland employers are finding it difficult to fill jobs across a range of industries
- Retaining skilled workers long-term and accommodation shortages are part of the problem
- The local RDA is working with the federal government to train locals in region
Health and hospitality workers, admin staff, chefs, cabinet makers, electricians and mechanics are just some of the vacancies across a wide variety of industries local employers are struggling to fill.
But some business operators said it was a problem long before the pandemic, including Renmark Hotel manager, Darren Baker.
Mr Baker explained while businesses were able to attract people to the region to fill vacant positions, the biggest issue was finding accommodation options in the region.
ABC Riverland: Stephanie Nitschke
)Skilled worker backlog
The hotel manager says while the priority is always to employ local people, the opening of additional positions for skilled workers like chefs has created a backlog in the region.
"It's the same chefs moving around the big [Riverland] businesses like hotels — then we have a lot of other cafes opening up which is great to see, but then they need chefs too," he said.
"So all of a sudden we've got a lack of local skilled workers in that area, and that's just one area — we've got issues [filling] security jobs too."
Loxton based migration lawyer Chioma Amaechi noted a recent rise in demand for her services, assisting local employers to recruit skilled workers from overseas, but said it's often a last resort.
ABC Riverland: Anita Ward
)Ms Amaechi said retaining skilled workers in the region was part of the wider problem, and it was critical to promote the Riverland as an entire lifestyle package where a prospective employee could settle with their family.
"It's very difficult for businesses to go through a recruitment process which is quite expensive and train up a new worker, but then maybe after two or three years, the person who now has experience moves to the city," she said.
ABC Riverland: Stephanie Nitschke
)Train local, stay local
Regional Development Australia Murraylands and Riverland identified limited local training opportunities as one of the key factors driving the staff shortage but said it was trying to combat it with programs like its Murray River Study Hub.
"We've teamed up with a couple of universities to offer degrees that would normally require the students to relocate to the city, to be done online here in region with support through our student advisors at the study hub," program manager Lorena Lyon said.
"We're also working alongside the Federal government to put in place some pre-employment courses and training to get local people into the jobs that are available around here.
Riverland staff shortage putting pressure on local businesses - ABC News
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