There are 10,000 jobs up for grabs in the region with one of the state’s highest unemployment rates
Almost one in 10 people in this region north of Brisbane were unemployed before COVID-19 hit but that rate has dropped, and there are now close 10,000 jobs up for grabs. WHERE TO FIND A JOB
Moreton
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The unemployment rate in the Moreton Bay region was 9.03 per cent in August 2019, the highest rate in southeast Queensland but despite the global pandemic the unemployment situation has improved.
Some of the region’s largest employers are hiring in preparation for the festive season and employment sites have close to 10,000 jobs on offer.
In the period from August 2019 to August 2020 the unemployment rate in Moreton Bay north, which includes Redcliffe, Caboolture, Deception Bay and Bribie Island, decreased from 9.03 per cent to 7.64 per cent.
For men the rate decreased from 9.16 per cent to 7.64 per cent and for women from 8.8 per cent to 8.13 per cent.
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Where to find a job in Queensland
It was a different story in the Moreton Bay south area, which includes Strathpine, North Lakes and Kallangur, with unemployment rates almost doubling between August 2019 and 2020, rising from 4.77 per cent to 7.71 per cent.
There are still less women in the workforce with the unemployment rate increasing from 5.3 per cent to 8.20 per cent – higher then the rate for men which was 7.25 per cent, up from 4.27 per cent.
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But with the festive season fast approaching business across all industries are desperate for new staff.
Jobs website Seek has 2980 jobs listed within 25km of Redcliffe. There 1513 within 25km or Caboolture and a massive 9392 jobs up for grabs within 25km of Strathpine.
A local jobs website, Moreton Bay Jobs, has close to 200 jobs listed.
Jobs up for grabs include hairdressers, retail workers, warehousing, fork lift drivers, administration roles, support workers, farm labourers, early childhood workers, truck drivers and groundsmen.
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There were even plenty of apprenticeship positions being offered.
Help Employment and Training CEO Greg Luck said with so many out of a job lots of jobseekers were all competing for the same roles.
But he said there was plenty out there if people were willing to be flexible.
“There is plenty of work available but many jobseekers are selective of where or what work they will do,” Mr Luck said.
“Large numbers of vacancies exist in the region for farm work, hospitality, aged care, cleaning, admin, warehousing, retail, general labouring.”
Mr Luck said the agency has remained open during the COVID crisis.
“We have focused heavily on customer service to ensure job seekers feel supported,” he said.
“We provide resume screening, short-listing and arranging interviews for the employers, allowing them to focus on their business. This has taken a lot of stress off employers as they are overwhelmed with candidate application in certain industries.”
While still it its draft stage it details how the council is aiming to create 16,000 new business and 100,000 new jobs by 2041.
One of Redcliffe’s biggest employers, the Redcliffe Leagues Club is also ready to take on new staff ahead of Christmas.
CEO Tony Murphy said like many hospitality businesses things had been tough since March.
“The club hasn’t fully recovered but have adjusted to the COVID-19 restrictions that have been put in place to make the venue comfortable and as sanitised as possible for members and guests,” Mr Murphy said.
He said with no live Intrust Super League games or major live entertainment things had been tough.
During the height of the pandemic the club was forced to close its doors for 14 weeks.
“We have 110 staff on Job Keeper, no staff were laid off,” Mr Murphy said.
“Some casual staff were not re-employed. Some decided to finish and not return to work. Some went on holidays and long service leave.”
But it was not just hospitality staff that were affected.
“The Football Club and the Leagues Club and two completely different separate businesses,” Mr Murphy said.
“While the Leagues Club staff qualified for Jobkeeper the Football club staff did not due to grants for stage three of the stadium. The football club employees were either put on holidays or long service leave some have had to be stood down.”
As the Intrust Super Cup competition was cancelled all senior rugby league players and coaching staff were also stood down.
Mr Murphy said with the festive season fast approaching the Leagues Club was hiring casual food and beverage attendants.
“I would just like to add our staff have been extremely positive and understanding. They are the best,” Mr Murphy said.
CSC Group, which operates several sports clubs in the Moreton Bay region, is also hiring chefs, short order cooks, baristas and food and beverage attendants.
A CSC group spokeswoman said while they were still dealing with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic they were back trading.
“We are still limited on capacity in the venue and occasionally are required to turn away members and guests during peak trading hours at some of our venues,” she said.
“We are also limited on what sort of entertainment and events we can provide that comply with social distancing & capacity regulations.
“Our restaurant is typically fully booked every Friday & Saturday night and our ticketed events are selling out.”