AN abundance of job vacancies across the Riverina has raised concerns around a lack of skilled workers for the region's employment experts.
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Having almost doubled since March last year, Regional Australia Institute outlined that job advertisements in the Riverina and Murray district rose by 93 per cent over the past 12 months, and as much as 20 per cent in the last month alone.
While at face value the figures sound promising to the unemployed, Wagga recruitment specialist Kyle Breust said they were a sign of tough criteria to meet.
"A lot of businesses are still stuck on not wanting to train people, so they want applicants that already have that piece of paper and the skills to back it up straight away," he said.
"For the hospitality industry in particular, a lot of experienced workers left their jobs for other places during COVID-19, and no longer want to return, so what's left is younger, less experienced options trying to find work, and that may be employers' only option."
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Mr Breust, who works at Huntsman Recruiting, said it was difficult to find "quality applicants" in the current climate, but not for the reason many may think.
"We're finding it's not about money anymore," he said.
"A lot of people are not wanting to leave their current roles or jump ship unless it really is of benefit to them at a cultural level.
"They are wanting somewhere that can offer them the best lifestyle and workplace culture."
Regional Development Australia Riverina CEO Rachel Whiting said the figures were "not surprising", but not a good sign.
"It means people are struggling," she said.
"Essentially, we have more jobs than we do people in the Riverina, and while it's positive in indicating there is growth and expansion of industries, as well as massive opportunities, we need people to actually fill those roles for it to function."
Ms Whiting said it was not specific to one industry, either, and that all skill types were needed.
"We need engineers, all types of health care workers, even chefs and teachers, there are massive needs across the board," she said.
"We have the ambition and dreams of getting more people to the region, but what we need are the solutions to make the concept a reality."
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