Australia businesses face labor shortages amid migration policy shifts

Australian businesses in the tourism and construction sectors are facing significant labor shortages as job advertisements surge. According to data from employment marketplace Seek, hospitality and tourism job ads rose 3.6 per cent in August, with a 6.2 per cent increase quarter-on-quarter when adjusted for seasonal trends. Specific demand for wait staff rose by 11 per cent, while cook positions increased by 6 per cent.

This spike in hiring comes amid looming changes to Australia's migration settings. The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association has expressed concern over previous government moves, such as the July freeze on working-holiday-maker visas, which heavily impact regional employers. Wes Lambert, the association's chief executive, noted that job listings on Seek jumped from the mid-40,000s to the mid-60,000s following recent policy shifts.

In the construction sector, job advertisements grew 10.7 per cent in the year leading up to August. This demand persists as the industry attempts to address chronic housing supply shortages despite a tightening labor market.