Liberals claim State Government worker recruitment results ‘PR spin’

The State Government has defended its efforts to recruit interstate and overseas workers for a range of industries hit hard by the pandemic and a boom in South West tourism.

Hospitality, tourism, viticulture and other agricultural businesses say they are worn thin after months of adjusting their business models to deal with a lack of workers, as well as nowhere to house them.

But an online hub developed by the State Government to attract workers with the lure of WA’s enviable lifestyle was a big success, a spokesperson told the Times this week.

“As of January 24, more than 568,000 people have visited WA Government workforce recruitment websites, with traffic to sites leading directly to completed job applications and referrals to online job boards,” the spokesperson said.

“These sites have been viewed in over 130 countries, including in key labour markets interstate and in New Zealand, United States, the UK and Ireland.

“WA now has the strongest annual average participation rate in the country — a signal that our efforts to attract job-seekers to the labour market are paying off.”

The website coincided with other initiatives launched last year, including the Wander Out Yonder campaign which was blasted as all noise and no outcome by deputy Liberal Party leader Steve Thomas.

“The State Government is very good at referencing website hits but very poor at telling us whether their online campaigns actually work,” Dr Thomas told the Times.

“The latest response is another attempt to cloud the answer.

“Their Work and Wander out Yonder campaign got lots of online hits, but didn’t get many people into jobs.

“The latest campaign looks like going down a similar path of PR spin.”

Dr Thomas said more tangible outcomes were needed from State Government intervention in the languishing labour market.

“There is a big difference between someone browsing online and someone deciding to emigrate to fill a skilled position and we need a measure of actual new workers delivered,” he said.

“I will be looking for those numbers when Parliament resumes next month.”

Some operators said the summer workforce had picked up but backpackers were already heading north to warmer winter destinations such as Exmouth or simply returning home.

The Government spokesperson said more programs would be coming to support employers.

“Interstate and overseas workforce recruitment campaigns are part of a range of initiatives underway to address skills shortages and support priority industries, such as the McGowan Government’s Lower Fees, Local Skills program and incentives for international students to work in regional WA,” they said.

“The State Government will continue to consult with local industry and evaluate ongoing campaigns to ensure WA’s skilled workforce continues to grow.”

The Times is still awaiting the outcome of a worker accommodation study proposed for State support by the Margaret River-Busselton Tourism Association and the Margaret River Wine Association in March last year.