The NSW Government has announced a major move to support critical staff shortages in the hospitality sector following the impact of the state-wide lockdown and border closures.
The New South Wales Government has announced thousands of free training opportunities to fill “critical” staff shortages in the hospitality sector.
Up to 3,000 people will be able to study across 29 different courses at TAFE NSW and other registered providers, including barista training, safe food handling, responsible service of alcohol (RSA) and introduction to cooking classes.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said free training would help attract more workers to hospitality venues as part of the state’s recovery from the pandemic.
“People from all over the state are lining up to get into pubs and clubs and we want to support those businesses with enthusiastic and skilled staff,” he said.
“We know businesses are struggling without the international workforce they depended on pre-lockdown. That’s why opportunities like this are so valuable, filing labour gaps and giving jobseekers the opportunity of a bright future in hospitality.”
The hospitality sector is facing a critical labour shortage as New South Wales revives its economy for the first time in more than three months.
Restaurant & Catering Industry Association CEO Wes Lambert told Sky News host Chris Kenny there is a “critical labour shortage” in the country.
Of the 220,000 vacancies listed on employment site SEEK, 85,000 are hospitality jobs.
“That means that nearly 40 per cent of all jobs in Seek are hospitality jobs,” he said.
Mr Lambert said hospitality staff shortage was due to the closing of international borders which saw international students, skilled migrants and working holiday makers shut out.
“Certainly we need those international borders to reopen because many of those positions – barista, bartender and wait staff – about 53 per cent of the unfilled jobs, certainly, we would love the Australian youth to uptake these jobs.
“In the long term we need more Australians to get into traineeships and apprenticeships in hospitality.”
Mr Lambert added the wages in hospitality are “skyrocketing” because of the labour shortage and demand for skilled workers.
“We’re hearing of some businesses paying into the $40 an hour for positions that are normally in the 20s and sign on bonuses.
“Certainly, that shortage has led to increased wages which will ultimately lead to increased menu prices.”
To enrol in a free TAFE hospitality course, visit: https://www.tafensw.edu.au/skills-served-up
To explore other free hospitality courses available to study, visit: https://bit.ly/3GpNEKW
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