DRIVING WORKERS TO THE INDUSTRY

WORK WHILE YOU TRAVEL

Growers and harvesting contractors on the hunt for employees ahead of this year’s crush are getting a helping hand from CANEGROWERS, with a new workforce recruitment drive attracting workers to the industry.

The mainly social media campaign is targeting interstate workers, young travellers, grey nomads, armed forces and emergency services retirees, ag workers from other sectors, and even qualified international job seekers, in an effort to prevent a repeat of shortages that wreaked havoc in some districts in 2022.

“We suffered significant workforce shortages right across the sector in 2022,” CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens said.

“Mill workers, farm hands, haul-out drivers, harvester operators, and truck drivers were all in short supply.

“While some areas were more badly affected than others, the overall shortage of workers contributed to the longer season length and around one million tonnes of cane being left in the paddock, unharvested."

We would love to get more Queenslanders working in the industry ... these are the people most likely to stay and be passionate about their region

CANEGROWERS is also targeting regional Queenslanders, especially students, and has been developing and promoting curicullum-aligned teaching resources that can help teachers inform students about the industry and the many career opportunities that exist.

“Ideally, we would love to get more regional Queenslanders working in the industry, as these are the people most likely to stay long-term and be more passionate about the vitality of their region," Mr Menkens said.

“As part of our long-term strategy to encourage young people into the industry, we have created resources that will help teach primary and secondary-aged students about the Queensland’s sugar industry.

"We are an industry of many and diverse opportunities. People with little knowledge of the industry might think being a farmer or a mill worker are the only career paths available, but in reality we have so much more to offer.

“From working in the paddock, operating farm machinery, to careers in agronomy, research and development, milling operations, sugar marketing and trade, laboratory technicians and chemists, sugar terminal operations and logistics, policy development, advocacy, communications, and so much more.

"There really is something for everyone in Queensland’s sugar industry."

To list a position vacant advertisement or check out work wanted ads, visit the Work in the Industry page on the CANEGROWERS website: www.canegrowers.com.au/page/jobs