By JONATHON HOWARD
JOB seekers are facing tough times ahead as employment opportunities across the Southern Downs dwindled during May and Centrelink queues grew.
Businesses bracing for the impact of the Federal Government’s budget, little to no harvesting work and a switch to part-time positions, has resulted in less employment advertising.
Many employers were restructuring positions once filled on a fulltime basis are now part-time to cut costs.
Mission Australia Warwick (on Palmerin St) manager, Kim Thomson, said employers were also becoming more reluctant to advertise due to an abundance of applications.
“They have such an influx of potential employees; businesses are choosing to advertise less and can easily fill those positions,” she said.
Best Employment Stanthorpe harvest labour manager, Sue Frances, said because harvesting had ended for winter, there were fewer work opportunities.
“A lot of local seasonal workers are out of work during the winter months, but they often put in long hours during the warmer months and they are happy to have time off,” she said.
“A lot of the people we place in work are backpackers who make up about 95 per cent of our employees.”
Mrs Frances said Stanthorpe was receiving more and more backpackers every year.
“There’s a lot more travelling through the region these days as the number of backpackers allowed into the country has significantly increased,” she said.
Mrs Frances said a lot of locals knew in order to get a job they needed to get out, walk the streets and talk to potential employers.
“In country areas, it’s always been the case of approaching the employers directly and being ready to work,” she said.
