The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) in WA has commended the state government’s announcement of a number of policies to address labour shortages, including a $4 million campaign to encourage Eastern state residents to move to WA.
The policy package was announced in the wake of a ‘Skills Summit’ held last week. Hosted by WA Premier Mark McGowan, the summit brought together industry leaders across a number of business sectors, including hospitality, to discuss existing labour and skills needs in their respective workforces.
Australian Hotels Association (WA) CEO Bradley Woods said the AHA had advocated strongly for the interstate recruitment campaign as an immediate measure to alleviate skills shortages across WA’s hotels, pubs, bars, taverns and restaurants.
“There has never been a better time for current or future hospitality workers to relocate to WA and a targeted campaign will highlight the many opportunities that we have in Perth and regional areas,” said Woods.
“Now more than ever, WA has demonstrated it is the best place in Australia to live, so the idea of moving here to take up rewarding career opportunities is a proposition that essentially sells itself.”
Woods also praised other commitments made by Premier McGowan, including the expansion of the Adult Apprentice Employer Incentive and an application to the Federal Government for an additional 5,000 onshore skilled migrant places under the State Nominated Migration Program.
“It is extremely encouraging to see the WA Government acting so quickly after the WA Skills Summit – this is an indication that they recognise the scale of the problem facing local businesses,” he added.
“We also look forward to investigating ways in which workers moving from interstate can access relocation assistance to further incentivise them to take up work in WA.”