Hunter region businesses face closure risk amid skills shortages

A survey of more than 500 New South Wales businesses found that 75.4% of respondents in the Hunter region report skills shortages, slightly above the state average of 73.6%. While the regional figure has fallen from the post‑COVID peak of 89.1% in 2022, it remains markedly higher than the 54.3% reported in 2019 and 33.3% in 2017.

Premier Chris Minns visited the Hunter and said the lack of highly skilled young workers is the top concern after energy prices. Business NSW representative Bob Hawes warned that the problem is now a mismatch between the skills available in the labour market and those employers need, with poaching and headhunting becoming common and many firms fearing they may have to close if conditions do not improve.