The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has launched a new one-stop website to help the agriculture sector overcome the pandemic-induced labour shortage and capitalise on what’s predicted to be the best harvest in many years
Announced by the Minister for Agriculture, Adam Marshall the Help Harvest NSW resource is set to connect unemployed Australians with farm work opportunities across the State.
“Farmers are desperate to find contractors and employees willing to work to make the most of the bumper harvest we’re about to have,” Mr Marshall said.
“A high volume of primary industries’ labour generally comes from overseas and due to COVID-19 international travel restrictions there simply isn’t the number of farm workers the ag industry needs at the moment,” he said.
“The Help Harvest NSW website will help to overcome this challenge by connecting job-seeking Australians with agricultural work opportunities in NSW.”
Mr Marshall said it was critical to act now as there would be a shortage of between 3,500 and 5,000 workers in the State.
“At a time when we are just beginning to emerge from drought, our State’s farmers cannot afford to miss out on the financial uplift that comes from a strong harvest,” he said.
“Never before and never again will Australians have a better chance to take up farm work, earn a decent wage and see first-hand our beautiful regions where the food we buy every day from the supermarket is produced,” Mr Marshall said.
The new Help Harvest NSW website can be accessed at this PS News link.