SA regional labour workforce rises three times faster than Adelaide over Covid fears, relocation payments and construction boom

SA’s regions are enjoying an unexpected rise in workers as more people flee the suburbs for the country. Here’s why.

A large increase in the state’s regional labour force, believed to be fuelled by the Covid-19 pandemic, is helping chip away at a skills shortage outside of Adelaide.

But business leaders say it’s still a struggle to fill roles in regional communities, and a larger vaccinated population, better training opportunities and open borders would help address the problem.

New state government data shows the regional labour force increased by 5233 people during 2020, or 2.07 per cent – three times the increase in Adelaide.

Regions experiencing the highest growth included Wakefield, Port Pirie, the Yorke Peninsula, Copper Coast and Clare & Gilbert Valleys.

The 10-year average labour force growth in the regions is 0.76 per cent, and in metropolitan Adelaide, it sits at 0.67 per cent.

The Yorke and Mid North branch of Regional Development Australia looks after many of the states’ regions with the largest labour force growth.

Chief executive Kelly-Anne Saffin said a booming construction industry, more tourists in the region and agricultural businesses fighting back from drought had increased local jobs.

“All of that is excellent for the region, but with that comes extra job creation,” she said.

Ms Saffin backed recent government incentives – such as relocation payments – for people to take up regional jobs, but said communities were still battling for enough applicants.

Ali Paulett of Paulett Wines with recently employed chef Dannavel Sarmiento, in the Clare Valley. Picture: Tom Huntley

Between April and June there was a monthly average of about 1400 regional job vacancies advertised on SEEK, CareerOne and Australian JobSearch.

Areas of highest demand included administration workers, medical practitioners and nurses, automotive and engineering trade workers, salespeople and carers.

Innovation and Skills Minister David Pisoni said increased interest in regional SA amid the pandemic and incentives for people to move to the country were behind the labour force increase.

Those policies include payments of up to $2000 for people accepting work in the regions, a $680,000 employment program for projects supporting skilled migrants and $1.2m for regions to address workforce issues.

“The fact the labour force in regional South Australia grew by 5233 people – more than three times the increase in metropolitan Adelaide – reflects the rapid growth in job opportunities across the state,” Mr Pisoni said.

Business SA director of policy and advocacy Andrew McKenna said vaccinating people against Covid-19 and reopening state and national borders were key to addressing skills shortages.

“We really need to focus on every measure possible to get international borders open as soon as possible,” he said.

Ali Paulett, owner of Paulett Wines in the Clare Valley, said she had some success hiring kitchen staff through school-based apprenticeships.

But hiring for senior roles was still much more difficult, she said, because of problems enticing people to move – along with a lack of local accommodation once they got there.

Mrs Paulett said a regional training centre such as a TAFE was needed to retain young people, which would lead to a greater pool of potential future employees.

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