Border closures aren’t the only cause of hospitality’s labour crisis, and international students aren’t the only solution
https://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/news/restaurant-news/hospitality-labour-shortage-19164
This is an article highlighting the challenges of workers in the tourism and hospitality industries in Australia.
Over the last 40 years, this has been a huge barrier to development, not just in the cities, but more so in the regional areas of Australia.
In the past 10 plus years, labour demand has been partially offset by the increase in over seas students and backpackers coming for 2 and now 3 years.
Covid has changed this and while we are seeing signs of renewed interstate visitation into the regions, the problem of labour has increased.
In Port Arthur in Tasmania, we have gratefully seen a continued increase in over night stay in the region, however because of families departing the region during lockdown, returning to family and work in the cities, we cannot get the labour we need to service them.
Not just chef’s, or guides, but cleaning staff has held business back trying to recover. Even State Government businesses are only operating 2-3 days in a mistaken belief that they are saving money, while opening to meet demand would not only help these Government Business Enterprises (GBE’s) but every other business in the region.
And its not just Tourism that is affected, the article below explains this challenge across all business sectors.
With a huge increase in housing costs in the cities, there has been an increase in movement to regions, however many are retired or working in industries that can work remotely.
Maybe a more targeted training for people already living in the area, rather than a quick fix of bringing in outsiders to fix a perceived short term problem, when it needs a long term solution.
Tony Park
Tony was a Director of Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and chaired the Employment, Education and Training Committee’s.