The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has stated that tackling regional worker shortages is the key to unlocking productivity growth in Australian agriculture.
In a recent report, the NFF stated that more planning is needed to safeguard the sector’s future.
“Agriculture faces persistent and acute workforce pressures that must be addressed if the sector is to remain strong, viable and productive,” said Michael Pyers, NFF General Manager of Workplace Relations and Legal Affairs.
“Farm businesses consistently have trouble hiring for both skilled and unskilled roles, with shortages particularly severe in seasonal industries such as horticulture.
“These shortages are dragging down productivity rates, increasing costs for farm businesses, and ultimately, hampering food supply chains.”
The NFF’s findings were part of an assessment of the Jobs and Skills Roadmap for Regional Australia – Phase 1 Report.
“We support the vision set out in the Roadmap to enhance the equity, effectiveness and efficiency of the jobs and skills system across regional Australia,” Mr Pyers said.
“However, for this vision to be realised, the unique needs of agriculture must be explicitly embedded in Phase 2 of the Jobs and Skills Roadmap.”
The NFF report highlights five key areas of concern:
– Persistent labour shortages
– Skills and training gaps
– Barriers to workforce participation
– Migration and visa complexity
– And the need to improve the attractiveness of agricultural careers.
The report also outlines opportunities for reform that align with broader national strategies such as the Net Zero Transition, Future Made in Australia, and Closing the Gap.
The full report can be found here.
Ashleigh Whittaker
Stacey Davidson