Staff wanted as labour market remains tight

NEW figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show the labour market remains relatively tight, with job vacancies 71 per cent higher than in February 2020, before the pandemic.

ABS head of labour statistics David Taylor said the number of job vacancies fell by about 1 per cent between August and November.

“The number of unemployed people per job vacancy was 1.5 in November. While this is higher than 1.1, when it was at its pandemic low, it is still well below the 3.1 figure in February 2020,” Mr Taylor said.

Joel Farnan, general manager and second-generation owner of Zeally Bay Sourdough, said local businesses were struggling with staff shortages.

“For the last four years since the lockdowns started, we have been facing rolling challenges, first the lockdowns themselves, then in 2022-23 there was out of control demand as everyone got back into the economy.

“And now it is unprecedented inflation and a shortage of people.

“Everyone from the mills and our other suppliers to the retailers we are sending our bread to are all singing from the same song sheet, facing the same staff shortages.”

Mr Farnan said finding skilled bakers was proving challenging, and all staff were rolling up their sleeves to help out where they can.

“We’ve had our admin staff helping out, I’ve been helping out; it’s been quite humbling.

“You would imagine there would be a lot of people coming through the TAFE, but there seems to be a total lack of supply of Australian tradespeople in baking.”

The National Skills Agreement, which began on January 1, is attempting to bolster the vocational education and training (VET) sector.

Under this initiative $1.4 billion has been allocated for 480,000 Fee-Free TAFE and vocational education spots from 2023 to 2026.

Corangamite federal member Libby Coker said workforce skill gaps were the target of her Government’s Fee-Free TAFE program.

“Our government wants to ensure we have the skilled workers our small businesses need, while also giving every Australian the best opportunity to secure a stable, well-paid job.”

As of September 30, 2023, Victoria reported over 44,000 students enrolling in Fee-Free TAFE courses.

This included 1,825 enrolments in Certificate III in Commercial Cookery.

Deakin University senior lecturer in economics Omar Bashar said it was all about supply and demand.

“Now the economy is booming, the supply of workers is not keeping up with demand.”

“A lot of people switched professions during COVID, and many older workers retired.”

“Workers have a lot of options now, and businesses that allow flexible working arrangements are a big factor in why workers move from one job to another.”

At Zeally Bay, Mr Farnan is looking to fill three roles.

“The key ingredient for a good baker is passion,” he said.

“If they have the passion and character, we can help them become bakers.”