Our employers are facing a growing struggle to find workers as new analysis shows there are more than 1500 vacant jobs across the central west region. 

The Regional Australia Institute (RAI) research shows there are more than 90,000 vacant jobs outside of capital cities in Australia - an all-time record high. 

RAI is think-tank devoted to issues concerned regional Australia. It’s Chief Economist, Dr Kim Houghton told the Western Plain App “the job vacancy rate has been growing strongly for the past two years roughly since around October 2021."

"There are now a whole range of well-paying trades and professional jobs in the central west, with an ongoing battle to fill those vacancies," Dr Houghton said. 

"It's a trend magnifying a nation-wide problem where skill shortages are particularly effecting the construction, manufacturing, hospitality and professional services industries. 

Dr Houghton said the biggest hurdle in attracting workers to the region was a shortage in short-term housing. 

“If you find people who want to move, then there is a real problem - there is often nowhere to move to” he explained. 

ABOVE: Dr Kim Houghton. Image: RAI. 

Private Sector Failing Housing Market 

“There has actually been a significant market failure. What the demand for is 1 to 2 bedroom units. I know people probably think someone moves to a country town to live in a bigger house, our research suggests many workers just want to stay for a short-time and want a small unit without much upkeep” he told the Western Plains App. 

Dr Houghton told the Western Plains App that whilst part of the issue might be some resistance to higher density housing constructions the big problem was that “builders are used to doing what they have always done."

"I think builders and developers are a bit bit stuck in the past, what they have always done and doing what they have done, rather than looking at changing needs”. 

The other problem he said was a lack of investment and a reluctance to invest by banks. 

“Councils aren't to blame for this, the further you go out of Dubbo, then less likely the banks are willing to lend because the markets are slows, but this slows markets down even more so the problem is circular,” he explained. “There is a flaw in the region’s lending system”. 

Calls to Attract Overseas Migrants 

“Over the past three years, there has never seen such a quite stark reminder that it is so important for regional markets to retain migrants both from overseas and from the cities” Dr Houghton told the Western Plains App. 

The release of the Federal Government's population statement earlier this month projected that less than 17 per cent of net overseas migration would settle in regional Australia in the coming year. 

“We need to look the financial visa and incentives for migrants…but we also need to make it clearer to overseas migrants what opportunities are available to them, and then work better at making them feel welcome and embracing their stay. The better their experiences, the more likely they are to stay long-term”. 

RAI has called for a national population strategy to ensure population numbers increase across regional Australia.