Fraser Coast business challenges top of agenda at breakfast event

A breakfast event will address some of the main challenges being faced by Fraser Coast businesses in 2023, including employee shortages.

Business owners and industry leaders will get the chance to discuss the region’s workforce challenges when a breakfast is held in Hervey Bay next month.

Business owners and industry leaders will get the chance to discuss the region’s workforce challenges when a breakfast is held in Hervey Bay in April 2023.

Employment Minister Di Farmer will address the event, which will take place at the Hervey Bay Boat Club in Urangan on April 5, and will be hosted by Jobs Fraser Coast.

“I want to meet business owners and industry leaders and listen first-hand both to the workforce challenges they’re facing, as well as the innovative solutions some of them are developing,” Ms Farmer said.

“Queensland is leading the nation in job creation, but we understand this can sometimes bring skills and labour shortages with it, particularly in regional areas such as the Fraser Coast.

“That’s why local solutions – including growing our own skilled workforce – are a key part of the Palaszczuk Government’s Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032, along with other strategies such as school-to-work transitions and cross-sector skilling initiatives.”

Employment Minister Di Farmer will address the event, which will be held on April 5 at Hervey Bay Boat Club in Urangan and will be hosted by Jobs Fraser Coast.

Key challenges on the Fraser Coast remain skill shortages across a range of industries, a lack of housing supply for skilled workers from out of the area, workforce attraction and retention, and a stubbornly high youth unemployment rate.

While the region has seen recent improvements in unemployment rates, the Fraser Coast jobless figure is 7.8 per cent and Wide Bay youth unemployment is sitting at 15.5 per cent.

Fraser Coast Regional Jobs committee chair Michelle Hay said the breakfast aimed to bring together leaders from multiple sectors to ensure discussions addressed issues such as training and education pathways and skills development right through to growth industries and housing supply challenges.

The event will include an address and Q&A session with Ms Farmer, as well as presentations by Jobs Fraser Coast and Allweld Manufacturing director Josh Linwood, who has successfully grown his business while creating training and apprenticeship pathways for young local people.

“Skills and workforce shortages aren’t just a local problem – they’re nationwide issues – but it’s important we share our common challenges and develop solutions locally to address issues particular to our region,” Ms Hay said.

“We want this breakfast to be another meaningful event where we can bring diverse groups together, problem-solve collectively, build the outcomes into our action plans and deliver – with the aim of making our entire regional economy stronger.”

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour, who will attend the breakfast, said it was important the voices of business, industry and community were being heard at both local and state government levels.

“As our region continues to grow and benefit from major projects, such as the recent announcement of the Queensland Train Manufacturing Project in Torbanlea, it’s such an exciting time for the Fraser Coast,” Mr Seymour said.

“Despite that, we know our industry sectors are facing a range of complex and connected workforce challenges.

“Many of these issues aren’t an easy or quick fix, but it’s important we all work together right now to improve the employment landscape into the future.

“We want to be part of the solution.”

Tickets to the Fraser Coast Workforce Solutions Breakfast cost $20 and are available to buy online.

Originally published as Fraser Coast business challenges top of agenda at breakfast event