We advertised on seek Thursday for new casual retail team members and within 24 hours has received 40 applications with 12 of those being what I’d call excellent.
I’ve not seen those stats for over a year.
So, this experience feels to me like there may be an easing of the labour shortage.
Some factors may have helped, I made it clear the pay rate was above the award, that we would provide a travel allowance and that there was an opportunity to transition to full time.
On the 12 I mentioned above, all have current retail experience, which particularly interested me, and it makes me wonder if it’s the opportunity for above the aware that gets people looking. If so, it’s the free market at work. I do think we are at a moment in time where paying above the award is what we have to do if we want to attract above average people as the award is designed as a benchmark for average, some may even say below average since it’s the minimum one can pay in a designated role.
Now, I say the job market is not easing because people are behaving differently. Three times recently we have hired people at 10% above the award plus a travel reimbursement only to have them not turn up for their shift, and not return calls.
I have several businesses and what I describe above is only occurring in retail.