A hire power: Jobs campaign success in Goulburn and Queanbeyan amid skills shortage

An employment campaign matching workers to businesses has arrived in Goulburn and Queanbeyan – with plans to stick around.

The Capital Region Local Jobs Program had partnered with Goulburn Mulwaree Council and Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council.

“They help us promote the program by sending it through to all their employer contacts and all through their stakeholder base,” employment facilitator Marcus Caldwell said.

The two campaigns, Goulburn is Hiring and Queanbeyan is Hiring, launched in March.

There had been a strong showing in the Goulburn area in particular, Mr Caldwell said, with about 15 jobs already pledged within the first week of that campaign being active.

“It was just a natural conversation to have with those guys to say, ‘This is what we’re doing, do you want to come in with us and promote the program?’,” he said.

“It’s worked out perfectly.”

Businesses have been invited to post information about their open positions on the campaign’s website, such as the location and any prerequisite skills needed.

“There’s no fee, and there’s no responsibility to accept any of the individuals that we screen as being suitable for their roles,” Mr Caldwell said.

People looking to change their careers or join the workplace can also submit their information.

“We have someone in the background that just goes in and matches the individuals that are looking for work with the current positions,” Mr Caldwell.

Partnering with the two councils was a clear choice.

“Their employer base that they have linkages to fits in perfectly with the exposure we’re looking for, and we’ve done programs before with both councils, who have been very, very supportive and very, very successful.”

While the campaigns were initially meant to wind up at the end of April, there are plans to extend the Queanbeyan program.

Organisers were also considering extending the Goulburn campaign, Mr Caldwell said.

The campaigns are open to those on welfare payments and working with an employment services provider, as well as those who are underemployed or looking for part-time work.

“Anybody can just get in and register their details, and then we’ll try and link you in with the right job!”

Mr Caldwell said the nationwide skills shortage was being hardest felt in regional and rural areas – which made programs such as these all the more important.

“There’s less people to draw from, there’s less resources to draw from, there’s less opportunities to upskill people to fit into the right roles,” he said.

The program helped to give potential employees a chance to help shape their future in the Goulburn and Queanbeyan areas.

“We’ll continue to push that and try to build on that employer base and different industries, different roles, to really give people a bit of an option of what they might want to commence employment into,” Mr Caldwell said.

Those looking to join the Goulburn is Hiring or Queanbeyan is Hiring campaign as an employer or employee can visit https://ishiring.com.au/ and select the ”Capital Region (ACT and Surrounds)” option.