Airlines, airports racing against time to fill 10,000 jobs

Recruitment efforts in Australia’s aviation industry are becoming increasingly urgent as job vacancies nudge 10,000.

Sydney Airport continues to look for workers to fill 5000 jobs across its three terminals. Picture: Getty Images

Job vacancies across Australia’s major airlines and airports are nudging 10,000 as recruitment efforts become more urgent ahead of the busy summer holiday period.

Sydney and Brisbane airports are seeking around 6000 workers between them, Melbourne Airport has vacancies for hundreds, and Adelaide Airport needs about 500, while Perth Airport did not have a specific figure but acknowledged staffing was an issue.

Qantas and Virgin Australia continue to rebuild workforces slashed to the bone during the Covid pandemic and new budget carrier Bonza is attempting to recruit about 200 flight and cabin crew ahead of its planned takeoff in late September.

Although 12 months’ experience for cabin crew was considered “ideal”, Bonza still wanted to hear from any interested person, even if they had never flown before.

Next month, Brisbane Airport will host a careers expo in an effort to fill 2000 roles, Melbourne Airport has a second jobs fair planned for August 18, and Cairns Airport staged an “aviation careers day” on Wednesday.

Prior to its own jobs fair in June, Sydney Airport had 5000 jobs vacant and was currently in the process of getting a revised estimate on the number of roles still in need of filling.

A Sydney Airport spokesman said attracting staff remained an “ongoing challenge”, with turnover to contend with, as well as the length of time it took to get new employees in the door in the tight labour market.

Brisbane Airport Corporation chief executive Gert-Jan de Graaff said vacancies existed in every area from corporate services to security and baggage handling.

Vacancies exist in every area from corporate services to security and baggage handling

“There are shifts around the clock that can work in with modern families and their needs,” said Mr de Graaff.

“We have people here choosing to do shifts that fit around their kids, or partners’ work. We have daycare onsite. This is a place that never closes, and you get a free air show every day.”

He said the careers expo at the airport on September 10 would provide an opportunity to meet employers face-to-face.

Gulf carrier Emirates was also targeting Australia for cabin crew and pilots, staging a series of “careers days” in major cities this month. As well as an average starting pay of nearly $4000 a month tax-free, an Emirates spokeswoman said the airline offered cabin crew “free company-provided accommodation and transport to and from work, excellent medical cover and exclusive discounts on shopping and leisure activities in Dubai”.

 

First officers were being wooed with the promise of “Dubai’s exciting lifestyle”, medical and dental cover and chauffeur driven vehicles to and from work.

Qantas currently had 111 jobs listed on its careers page ranging from ground crews to software engineers, and was also recruiting in its overseas ports of London, Auckland and Los Angeles.

Virgin Australia was seeking “hundreds of roles across the business” and promised perks of heavily discounted air travel, wellness support and flexible working arrangements.

“We know our people are at the heart of our success,” said a Virgin spokesman.

Rex was the exception to the recruitment drive, having added 500 staff at the height of the pandemic in preparation for the airline’s expansion into major city routes.

Australian Airports Association chief executive James Goodwin said the aviation sector was the first to be hit by the pandemic and was likely to be one of the last to fully recover.

He said efforts had been made to retain as many critical operational and security roles as possible but there were now staff shortages in a number of areas.

“We are facing a situation where many employees have moved to different parts of the economy and we would urge the Australian government to work with industry to rebuild confidence in the aviation sector and help demonstrate the benefits of working in the exciting, innovative and vital industry that it is,” Mr Goodwin said.

Originally published as Airlines, airports racing against time to fill 10,000 jobs