iscover
Companies are hiring fewer casual employees than they were at the same time last year, new research has found.
According to the latest Sidekicker Jobs Index, which analysed data from over 27,000 workers across 7,000 businesses, there’s been a 17 per cent decline in the number of casual shifts per business.
In June alone, the number of casual shifts per business dropped 40 per cent in Victoria and 47 per cent in Western Australia.
Industries such as hospitality and events, as well as aged care, are experiencing the strongest easing in demand.
The former saw the biggest decline in casual shifts, falling 44 per cent year-on-year, while the latter experienced a 38 per cent drop off.
This comes despite both these industries suffering arguably the biggest labour shortages in mid-2022.
Thomas Amos, CEO and co-founder of Sidekicker, said the results show a definitive trend in casual working conditions.
"According to the latest Sidekicker Jobs Index, labour shortages continue to ease in Australia. Companies are hiring fewer casuals than they were compared with June 2022, with the average business posting 9 per cent less shifts year-on-year,” Mr Amos explained.
“April to July 2022 was the height of the jobs boom, driven by consumer demand, COVID-related absenteeism and the lack of international workers.
“With these factors now largely resolved, we expect to see a continued YoY decline in shifts per customer until around October 2023.”
Mr Amos suggested that it’s safe to assume staffing pressures brought on by the pandemic have eased considerably year-on-year.
“The Sidekicker Index indicated a 17 per cent MoM decline in the number of shifts per business in June, with Victoria (-40 per cent) and Western Australia (-47 per cent) seeing the biggest fall YoY. The Index has also seen the largest YoY growth in applications per shift in Western Australia (50 per cent) and Queensland (76 per cent).
"We’ve also seen a normalisation between Australia and New Zealand as both countries exited COVID lockdowns at different speeds. New Zealand was slower to come out of lockdown and as such the shifts per business have been steadily trending upwards whereas Australia rushed out of lockdowns in early 2022 and saw an earlier rise in businesses needing more staff,” he said.
In other casual employee-related news, the state of Victoria has confirmed it has expanded its Sick Pay Guarantee that revolves around the right for casual and contract workers to access sick and carer’s pay.
Last week, the government confirmed it would expand the three-year pilot program to run until 13 March 2025.
Eligibility requirements listed by the government are:
- 15 years or older
- Physically work in Victoria
- Have the right to work in Australia
- Work an average of 7.6 hours per week or more in an eligible job
- Don’t have access to paid sick and carer’s leave entitlements at any job
“The Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee provides eligible casual and contract workers with a guarantee they will receive sick pay when they can’t go to work. Because no worker should have to choose between a day’s pay and their health – or the health of a loved one,” the government’s statement explained.
