Where have all the WORKERS gone?

[Cruiser Elite]

Couldn't get heading to work but I can here - Where have all the flowers WORKERS gone? Post Covid that is.

No International backpackers? No International students? Long Covid sufferers? Those just realising more to life than work? Other reasons?

It's not only Australia - it is world wide - I was in a dozen countries over last 2 months - same story everywhere. In my industry / my Company competent qualified staff impossible to find - no doubt you all see the same?

 

[jrfsp]

Flexibility in remote working has also had a huge impact

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Good question… although for aviation I’m struggling to see why such a shortage… you have to be security cleared, and trained… so unlikely it would have been backpackers?

 

[jakeseven7]

We missed the 2021/2022 uni year cycle and summer season cycle because of the very late reopening of the international border. Thanks government.

Other countries like Canada basically have cut our grass and ‘stolen’ these people.

There is a huge amount of money lined up to pull people through the 2022/3 summer uni cycle - I really really hope it worlds because I’m so damn sick of waiting for everything because there are no workers…

 

[RooFlyer]

Good question… although for aviation I’m struggling to see why such a shortage… you have to be security cleared, and trained… so unlikely it would have been backpackers?

Just a theory. Aviation in general ( esp at airports) pay so poorly, so with general worker shortage, the people who might be working there have gone elsewhere.

 

[blackcat20]

I hear a lot of workers have gone to Aus Post, where you can have as many shifts as you can handle.

 

[dajop]

Obviously net migration into Australia fell off a cliff due to Pandemic, but even the net population growth bottomed out at 117,000 in 2002 (vs 140,000 in 1990 and 160,000 in 2012), and those born in the range of 1998-2004 would be just entering the labour market now too. You'd think that would be minor, but I guess it all adds up.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I hear a lot of workers have gone to Aus Post, where you can have as many shifts as you can handle.

Aust Post still short in their distribution centers for both drivers and pickers - next week they start advertising for increased staff for XMAS rush - good luck with that - huge delays looming again

 

[Denali]

Ive assumed workers found other jobs or income streams and when airlines said they they could return they said nope because they have moved on and Im hoping its better things for them (ie baggage handlers are low paid IMHO)

Airlines took all of about 4 seconds to stand down staff - employees found out their loyalty and working hard accounted for nothing so now looking after themselves first.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Is not Australia's current unemployment rater at all time low? (50 year low) Is not current Australian job vacancies at all time high? (Looks high to me) Or close to it for both?

The sum of all parts I get but still many parts missing to my simple little mind

 

[dajop]

Labour market participation rate also highest it's been in last 10 years ...

Labour Force, Australia, November 2024

Headline estimates of employment, unemployment, underemployment, participation and hours worked from the monthly Labour Force Survey

www.abs.gov.au

 

[jrfsp]

Ive assumed workers found other jobs or income streams and when airlines said they they could return they said nope because they have moved on and Im hoping its better things for them (ie baggage handlers are low paid IMHO)

Airlines took all of about 4 seconds to stand down staff - employees found out their loyalty and working hard accounted for nothing so now looking after themselves first.

Especially when the terms have got worse for those workers
Ie baggage handlers would be employed under significantly worse terms now under a third party handling agent than before when they were QF employees…..

 

[blackcat20]

Unemployment might be low but underemployment isn't.

 

[dajop]

Unemployment might be low but underemployment isn't.

In the context of the last 10 years it is. In the year prior to the pandemic it ranged from 8.1-8.6% In June it was 6.1% (and May 5.7%).

 

[Flying Fox]

They are lazy and at home watching Netflix and have transitioned to become 'influencers'.

 

[jase05]

Aust Post still short in their distribution centers for both drivers and pickers - next week they start advertising for increased staff for XMAS rush - good luck with that - huge delays looming again

Yes and no on the first point. Casuals getting less shifts in the last couple of weeks especially on Thursdays and Fridays. Getting ready for the big rush but will be some constraints especially with Covid still lingering. Some facilities about 25% down at times

 

[justinbrett]

I saw a Burger King in Queens offering US$25/h for workers back in January.

Numerous places had signs saying "guaranteed job - turn up to your interview and you're hired". Took a few months to hit here but think we're in a similar position.

 

[jb747]

Good question… although for aviation I’m struggling to see why such a shortage… you have to be security cleared, and trained… so unlikely it would have been backpackers?

No, it wasn’t backpackers…but you already knew that.

Ive assumed workers found other jobs or income streams and when airlines said they they could return they said nope because they have moved on and Im hoping its better things for them (ie baggage handlers are low paid IMHO)

Airlines took all of about 4 seconds to stand down staff - employees found out their loyalty and working hard accounted for nothing so now looking after themselves first.

Basically the airlines trelated them extremely poorly, taking covid as an opportunity to out source and to reduce the terms of the various contracts. Threats were also part of the ‘bargaining’. After two years away, and having seen the various managements treating themselves to bonuses because managing a non flying airline is such hard work, a huge proportion have decided that they will not be returning. I know of one young 787 pilot who created his own business whilst stood down, and is now making more than he ever would flying…and that’s not even considering the lowered conditions he’d be coming back to. A couple of others (not pilots) are happily working normal hours at Bunnings.

If you treat your staff like dirt, it will, sooner later, come back to bite you.

 

[Ade]

you have to be security cleared

From personal experience, ASIC is taking forever to be issued. Even the grey ones (land-side access only). Red ones take even longer. For the Grey ASIC (and some of the Red ASIC holders as well), they can work the shift in the presence of (under the minding of) another staff who has got ASIC issued. However, roles with the airline, I understand/I'm told that they can't begin work until the ASIC is issued

 

[OZDUCK]

Unemployment might be low but underemployment isn't.

Underemployment may be higher than it should be but it is less than just before the pandemic really got going.

A quote from the June report by the ABS -

Underemployment​

In seasonally adjusted terms, in June 2022:

• underemployment rate increased by 0.3 pts to 6.1%.
• underemployment rate was 2.7 pts lower than March 2020.
• underutilisation rate remained at 9.6% in rounded terms.
• underutilisation rate was 4.5 pts lower than March 2020.