Hunter job openings go unanswered despite financial strain of Covid restrictions
Job vacancies in the Hunter are going unanswered, as council offers up training to help businesses ride out Covid restrictions.
Newcastle
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Hunter employers are finding it difficult to fill job vacancies despite the pressures of Covid restrictions and flow-on effects of Sydney’s latest lockdown on businesses and individuals.
Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes said the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ regional job data for June was an accurate reflection of the local market.
“We are witnessing a continuing trend of record high job vacancy ads across the region,” Mr Hawes said.
“This confirms what we are hearing from local businesses – they are advertising jobs and getting little and, in some cases, no response.
“Businesses and recruitment consultants are experiencing considerable frustration in finding and placing people in roles at the present time.”
Mr Hawes said it appeared more people were choosing not to work.
“The relatively low participation rate won’t be helping things as it is an indicator of people choosing to sit on the sidelines or leave the workforce, either for the time being or permanently,” he said.
“Candidates are hard to catch, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to coax a candidate from non-participation or an existing role based on Covid circumstances and uncertainty.
“This is understandable in the circumstances and means they will sit tight and wait for the job they want.”
The figures come as City of Newcastle rolls out its NewSkills program aimed at closing the skills gap in the local workforce.
It will also train businesses to be more resilient to Covid-19 impacts and become more inclusive.
Lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the training would be delivered by specialist providers over the next 12 months.
“Newcastle’s economic future will be built on the talent, skills and ingenuity of our people,” Ms Nelmes said.
“Business owners, workers and entrepreneurs with diverse skill sets will be better placed to capitalise on opportunities, invest money in the local community and create jobs.”
Deputy lord mayor Declan Clausen said NewSkills would spur small business growth.
“This investment in trainingwill provide tangible benefits to t he wider Newcastle community, whether it’s encouraging residents to turn their side hustle ideas into fledgling start-ups, providing the digital skills needed to drive automation, innovation and growth through technology, or making Newcastle a more appealing destination for residents and visitors by encouraging businesses to improve the access, inclusion and culture of their service for people with disability,” Mr Clausen said.
EARLIER:
Covid-19 hardship support for Newcastle businesses, residents
By Emily Burley on July 15, 2021
Hardship support for Newcastle residents and businesses struggling financially because of the pandemic has been extended as the state’s capital prepares to enter its fourth week of lockdown.
Although Newcastle is not under stay-at-home orders – the lockdown covers Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Central Coast – the impact on business and tourism has had a ripple effect felt in the Hunter.
Restrictions for regional and rural NSW, including the mandatory wearing of face masks and limits on weddings and funerals and the service of alcohol, have also hurt business owners.
The economic slowdown is likely to continue with the lockdown in place for at least another two weeks.
City of Newcastle lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes said a number of options were available to those in the local government area experiencing hardship.
“City of Newcastle will offer hardship support to residents and business owners experiencing financial hardship through interest free payment plans, upon application, for the upcoming 2021/22 rates notice period,” Ms Nelmes said.
“With 2021/22 rates notices arriving in mailboxes from mid-July, we encourage those experiencing financial hardship to reach out and contact City of Newcastle to discuss a payment plan.
“The next rates instalment is due on August 31, so there is plenty of time to organise a plan.”
Ms Nelmes said payment plans were available, as well as financial counselling.
“In July 2020, during the height of Covid-19, we saw a large take-up from residents and businesses experiencing hardship and helped set up appropriate arrangements,” she said.
“$1.64 million in rates were deferred during the peak period, and City of Newcastle is extending the same support to help the community through this challenging time.”
People from regional NSW, including Newcastle and the Hunter, are barred from entering Greater Sydney without a reasonable excuse.
Restrictions for regional NSW have been extended until at least July 30, along with the Greater Sydney lockdown.
The state recorded 65 new locally acquired cases on Thursday, of which 28 were in the community while infectious.
The Newcastle region has not recorded a Covid-19 case since August last year.
EARLIER:
Restriction extension a ‘blow’ for Hunter businesses
By Amy Ziniak on July 7, 2021
COVID-19 restrictions have meant the loss of some functions and the cancelling of others for Marina Views Function Centre at Wickham.
Like a number of function venues across the Hunter, they’re riding the wave and crossing their fingers for statewide restrictions to come to an end or at least to be eased.
But the latest news of NSW continuing the lockdown for Greater Sydney residents until July 16 and for the restrictions to stay just as they are for a further week, it’s a crushing blow for some Hunter businesses and their employees.
Manager Emily Power said they have been super conservative and have gone above and beyond to ensure the safety of their customers, going back to the old COVID-19 restrictions from last year.
While they still have a venue capacity of 80, they are turning away Sydney-siders, or cancelling some events just to be on the safe side.
“We had one function with Business Hunter, some people coming from Sydney, the speakers so we cancelled. We don’t put anyone in jeopardy,” Ms Power said.
“We’re being really cautious so all the bookings that we’ve got for the next month or two, we have contacted them about the restrictions, hoping for it to change.
“We have lost a couple of functions because we just don’t want to take that risk, but we just have to take that on the chin, just to be safe as a precaution.”
Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes said so far the restrictions imposed on regional NSW have seen a flow-on effect both directly and indirectly to areas like the Hunter.
The extension of lockdowns in Sydney and having to continue to wear masks and not being able to stand at venues for an extra week continues to be a big blow for local businesses big and small.
“As a consequence, people have cancelled or changed their travel or plans they’ve had during school holidays and beyond,” Mr Hawes said.
“We’ve seen an indirect impact which has seen our community being spooked, people aren’t going out as much or they’ve changed their habits.
“Hearing of businesses that are telling staff not to engage publicly, not going to events, elect to shorten hours because they don’t have the customers. Casual employees are getting much less hours a week.”
Mr Hawes said in particular the hospitality, accommodation industries are feeling the brunt, which flows on to other businesses.
“The Bay and Valley experienced a significant decline in some cases, and had flow on to cafes and restaurants and entertainment,” he added.
“Pubs and clubs are the same having to police how many people come in, and people sitting down.
“Supply chains indirectly, food and beverage.
“Although, travel seems to be holding OK, there are some disruptions, but in some cases it seems Victorians are bypassing Sydney and going to the regions instead.”
The Business Hunter CEO also mentioned employees in regions didn’t qualify for Commonwealth support, with no JobKeeper this time around, putting added pressure on businesses and their employees.
Disappointed more couldn’t be done to support those in regional NSW who are struggling.
“Federal legislation defines hot spots and they get direct support and there is focus, we’re outside those zones,” he said.
EARLIER:
COVID-19 support grants ‘small step’ for Hunter businesses
By Amy Ziniak on July 1, 2021
State Government grants are a “small step” in helping Hunter businesses from the flow-on effect of COVID-19, but it doesn’t go far enough according to Tourism Advisory Council board member of Business NSW Will Creedon.
The former Tourism Hunter chair and Founder and Managing Director of accommodation operation Alloggio, believes it is good news for the industry but by no means remedies the revenue situation and fight to retain staff during the coming weeks and months.
“Domestic tourism has been very uneven across different sub sectors of hospitality and wider business economy and each business owner has felt the effects of COVID-19 differently,” he said.
“It’s a moving feast what you have to manage, and the most important thing is cash flow.
“Right across the Hunter, our source market is driven mainly from the Greater Sydney basin and so in the lead up to the school holidays that has been cut off to the businesses of the Greater Hunter.
“Now into school holidays businesses including accommodation, food and beverage, activities and experiences, butchers, they will no longer have that cash flow revenue hitting them in the middle of winter.”
The COVID-19 small business support grants were announced by the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet on Tuesday.
It came as the impact of the Greater Sydney region lockdown started to dramatically hit the bottom line of business owners right across the state, including the Hunter.
For small businesses of 20 or fewer employees including sole traders, they’ll be eligible for grants of either $5000, $7000 or $10,000 depending on the loss in turnover.
A tourism or hospitality related business can claim the grants if they have turnover of more than $75,000 and an annual wages bill less than $10 million each year.
“In simple terms, non-Payroll Tax paying businesses who have suffered as a result of the lockdown can access a grant and have that in their account by mid to late July,” Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes said.
“The package is particularly well targeted and will start to hit the accounts of business owners from next month.
“Our affiliate Business NSW has been working with the Government on this initiative since the lockdown was confirmed on Saturday, and by using the real experiences of our members, we were able to demonstrate the widespread need for a quick turnaround for this package.”
Also included are the extension of Dine & Discover vouchers until August 31, also able to be used for takeaway meals.
Optional deferral of payroll tax payments and gaming machine tax is also being offered.
“We all want the restrictions to be lifted as soon as possible, so the community can be re-engaged and businesses can get back to doing what they do best, employing people and supporting their local communities,” Mr Hawes said.
Mr Creedon has also called on banks to give loan respite to regional NSW and wants more support for businesses having trouble retaining and hiring staff.
“One of the significant thing over last 12 months, across most sectors, it’s difficult to find staff, more so in the hospitality and accommodation sector because of the uncertainty into the future because of the lockdowns,” he explained.
“They are having to find secure employment in other sector and is therefore putting greater strain on wider visitor economy, to service the needs of the business.
“A lot of businesses before lockdown were closed more often as they couldn’t main the daily operations.”
COVID-19: Panic buying madness back as Hunter testing spikes
While Sydney is copping the brunt of COVID-19, the Hunter it seems is feeling the flow-on effect of the unpredictable virus.
Eighteen cases of community transmission were detected from nearly 59,000 tests in the 24 hours to 8pm Sunday night throughout NSW, 15 of those linked to the Bondi outbreak.
As of Monday, the Hunter had not recorded any COVID-19 cases, but the threat of spread has seen the buying up madness once again take over.
Local residents have reported shoppers frantically stockpiling toilet paper and other essential items at their local grocery stores.
On Sunday, Woolworths shelves at Cessnock were bare of the humble loo roll, and Woolies customers at Salamander Bay also reported no toilet paper rolls were in sight.
A woman on Facebook also reported all three supermarkets in Rutherford were bare of the essential bathroom item.
“It just keeps happening, people are so stupid,” one person commented.
“Can’t educate people in fear,” another said.
With fear COVID-19 could reach the Hunter, the numbers at testing clinics have also jumped dramatically, with massive lines at local testing sites stretching far and wide.
Since April, testing numbers at COVID clinics across Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Maitland have increased by nearly 7000.
In the week ending June 20, the three LGAs recorded a total number of 6525 COVID tests, with Lake Macquarie bringing in the biggest numbers with nearly 3000.
But as Sydney cases started to get to worrying numbers, more people across the Hunter flocked to local testing clinics to ensure they didn’t have the virus.
In the week ending Sunday (June 27), testing numbers rose to 10,238 with numbers recorded from Monday onwards expected to be even greater as lockdowns in Sydney take effect and restrictions are enforced across regional NSW.
While everyone in Greater Sydney must stay home unless it is for an essential reason, Hunter residents are also expected to do their bit to limit transmission.
In other parts of NSW, the following restrictions will apply:
• People who have been in the Greater Sydney region (including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour) on or after June 21 must follow the stay-at-home orders for a period of 14 days after they left Greater Sydney.
• Visitors to households will be limited to 5 guests – including children;
• Masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events;
• Drinking while standing at indoor venues will not be allowed;
• Singing by audiences and choirs at indoor venues or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed;
• Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs however, dancing is allowed at weddings for the wedding party only (no more than 20 people);
• Dance and gym classes limited to 20 per class (masks must be worn);
• The one person per four square metre rule will be reintroduced for all indoor and outdoor settings, including weddings and funerals;
• Outdoor seated, ticketed events will be limited to 50 per cent seated capacity.
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