A 'recruitment crisis' is beating the hospitality industry with 100,000 vacancies across Australia, forcing employers to offer sign-on bonuses and huge increases in hourly pay to attract staff.
The number of vacant positions grew from 84,376 to 93,395 over 10 days, according to data from Seek, and the figure is expected to soar to 100,000 within a fortnight as borders open and restrictions continue to ease.
Restaurant and Catering Australia chief executive Wes Lambert said at least 50,000 positions are open for roles such as waitstaff, baristas and bartenders, which would normally be filled by working holiday visa holders, international students or the partners of skilled migrants.
Approximately 40,000 roles are open for entire kitchen teams and managers, said Lambert.
Some operators have reported offering between $40-$50 an hour for some of the most critical front of house positions, he added.
The average award rate for baristas or waitstaff is $25 an hour, meaning in some cases, staff are being tempted with double their usual rate.
Hospitality has done it the toughest during the pandemic, and the staff shortage is just rubbing salt into the wound.
Hundreds of businesses had reported they are now only open four or five days a week with one or two meal periods when they used to open six or seven days a week with two or three meal periods, and this will only continue to affect profitability in an already low-margin industry, said Lambert.
