Gold Coast’s cleaning, tourism, hospitality and trade sectors are begging for staff as Queensland's borders reopen
Multiple businesses are finding it impossible to hire staff on the Gold Coast, with one firm getting zero responses to a job advertisement. HERE'S WHERE THE JOBS ARE AVAILABLE
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DOMESTIC and commercial cleaners are charging “ridiculous rates” as the Gold Coast grapples with a severe shortage of people willing to get their hands dirty.
It comes as the city battles to get staff across all industries following a lack of international students and travellers and the extension of government benefits that appear to be disincentivising locals from getting a job.
Janice Healey owns a domestic cleaning business servicing the Gold Coast and said she had so much work that she needed to advertise for staff. She’s had zero replies.
“Nobody wants to work. I am 60 and am happy to work. I know it’s physical work but it’s not difficult,” she said.
Melinda Enriquez, of Unique Bnb Hosts, manages 32 properties through Airbnb and said since Queensland had announced borders would reopen from December 1 she’d been hit with a massive spike in demand for holiday accommodation.
And while this is great news following months of empty properties, she has been unable to find anyone willing to take up cleaning jobs.
“More than expected, people are choosing to holiday before Christmas, which is unusual to see,” she said.
“But I have put up six advertisements for cleaners and only received five responses. I’ve also messaged about 20 companies and they too are struggling to find cleaners.
“Some cleaners are charging ridiculous rates knowing they can as there are no cleaners out there.
“My old cleaners were from Brazil, but in order for them to stay in Australia they needed to set up another different type of business for their visa approval.
“There are not a lot of overseas students now who are willing to work, and a majority of them have left.”
Ms Enriquez said she needed at least five cleaners and an assistant to help with check-ins or it “will be impossible to turn over our all our bookings with five-star cleans”.
“We had to rent out most of our properties at very cheap deals during COVID, just to get bookings and pay the mortgages, we have also lost a few to the full time rental market.
“Most of our longer bookings were from lots of people that were either travelling Australia and stuck, renovating, sold their home or came back from overseas.”
Linda Hildingsson owns an Airbnb management company called Manage My Bnb and said she was also unable to find cleaning staff during what’s likely to be the Gold Coast’s longest peak season ever.
“Most ask for cash in hand so they can keep their government money. It’s frightening coming into the busy season,” she said.
CRISIS LOOMS FOR COAST OPERATORS
"WE NEED YOU!"
That’s the desperate message from tourism, retail and hospitality operators screaming out for staff as the Gold Coast braces for an influx of visitors from southern states.
Adding to the crisis is a lack of overseas students and travellers, who usually take up casual jobs, and a perceived disincentive to work following the Federal Government’s decision to extend the coronavirus supplement payment on the JobSeeker unemployment benefit until March.
Rockleigh Cafe manager Dan Mulcay said every week dozens of people dropped off their resumes to his Coolangatta eatery, or inquired about jobs, but not this year.
“We do have people coming in but they are usually internationals stuck here; not entitled to any government support, and they don’t have any experience,” he said.
“Some have never even worked in hospitality but are desperate for work. We’d had an advert for a chef up for two weeks and haven’t been able to fill the role.”
Madison’s Cafe owner Lincoln Testa, who’s spent 36 years in the hospitality industry, said the city’s hospitality sector was bracing for its three-week peak period to blow out to six-to-eight weeks.
“The Gold Coast is usually at 100 per cent capacity from about December 26 to January 12. But because Victorians and Sydneysiders have been in lockdown, and can’t take their usual overseas summer holidays, our peak will end later,” he said.
Mr Testa said he was scrambling to get four baristas to help during the Christmas period at his Broadbeach cafe and had advertised for a chef and a cook. About 10 people had applied but only four were suitable.
“Before COVID we used to get about 20 or 30 resumes dropped in a week, now we just get a handful and most of them aren’t for us,” he said.
“Right now if we don’t hire chefs almost on the spot then we’ll lose them.”
Substance Expresso in Runaway Bay is on the hunt for baristas “along with 50 million other Gold Coast cafes and restaurants”, says owner Leah Smith.
She’s had to spend $400 on just one advertisement. “We just don’t have enough good baristas on the Gold Coast, being such a transient tourism hub.”
Richie Dia, owner of Bar 11 in Southport, said he was desperate for casual staff for bartender roles and he needed another cook.
“We have no travellers from southern states that often fill these roles and it’s very hard to find the right staff ahead of our very busy summer season,” he said.
But it’s not just hospitality staff in demand, trades are also desperate to fill positions ahead of the busy summer season.
AMP’D Electrical & Solar owner Monique Driessens said they’d advertised for more than four weeks and only a handful of electricians had applied and most weren’t qualified.
“It is the least we’ve ever had apply for a job. We also contacted Seek and they had seen a huge decline in applicants across the board.”
Myra Mawby said before COVID her family’s earthmoving company received 100 resumes when asking for machine operators.
“Since then I’ve placed two ads and one of them only got nine (responses), the other is about to expire and I would need to check numbers but it’s similar. My hairdresser said the same, they can’t get staff.”
A quick online search found Seek has 402 hospitality and tourism jobs on the Gold Coast and the Queensland Government’s Jobsearch website has 374 jobs, the majority of them for chefs and cooks.
Gumtree’s job section had 473 local jobs, with 158 in trades and services sector and 119 in the tourism and hospitality industry.
APPRENTICESHIP UPTAKE STRONG DESPITE COVID-19 - May
The Australian Industry Trade College has revealed 15 people signed to apprenticeships in April this year despite coronavirus restrictions.
This is almost twice the amount signed to apprenticeships in April 2019, with eight recorded.
Chief executive Mark Hands said its Robina-based campus had a positive start to the year, with 19 students signing up to apprenticeships in February.
“While apprenticeships have plateaued due to COVID-19 restrictions and an economic downturn, industry has continued to see the value in our young people and signed-up 38 students between March and May,” he said.
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“In fact, we had twice as many sign-up in April year on year, at the height of restrictions.
“It’s no surprise that placements within hospitality, hairdressing and beauty, aged care and child care have seen a downturn since COVID-19; though we are starting to get achieve some hospitality placements now that restrictions are easing.
“Electro, plumbing and carpentry are our three biggest trades on the AITC Gold Coast campus but we offer a variety of industry career opportunities.”
An independent senior school with five campuses across south east Queensland, the college allows Years 10, 11 and 12 to spend half their time completing their schooling and the rest in industry.
Mr Hands revealed there was a level of hesitation by some in industry to take on apprentices at the moment, but that confidence was starting to return across the Gold Coast.
“Apprentices provide employers an opportunity to build, or rebuild, their workforce. Our school-based apprentices are younger, eager and more cost-effective to employers,” he said.
Since COVID-19, Mr Hands said some students considered the short-term solution and committed to full-time work.
“But young people can really have the best of both worlds, education and employment. At the AITC, they can complete their senior education and start a paid apprenticeship in an industry of their choice.”
Last year 99 per cent of graduates completed their Queensland Certificate of Education and 90 per cent had started an apprenticeship or traineeship in the industry career of their choice.
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