Urgent jobs drive

Positions created amid sweeping unemployment

SOME of Queensland’s biggest employers have begun urgent recruitment drives to fill thousands of positions created by the unprecedented demand for their services during the coronavirus outbreak.

A shining light has emerged amid mass job losses and fears the nation’s unemployment rate could hit 30 per cent, with some companies desperately working to fill jobs created in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

The jobs on offer for Queenslanders include call centre workers, triple-0 operators, healthcare staff and grocery shelf stackers. Telstra, BHP, the Queensland Ambulance Service, Centrelink, Queensland Health, the Commonwealth Bank and Coles are among some of the employers fast-tracking their recruitment to get thousands of new workers into in-demand jobs.

Telstra has begun recruiting 1000 people across Australia including 300 positions in Queensland.

The loss of more than 50,000 jobs in Queensland has seen unprecedented demand for Centrelink with Services Australia expected to take on 5000 more workers to handle unemployment applications.

Jobs on the agency’s temporary employment register are being advertised at junior and corporate levels.

Queensland Health has also launched a major recruitment campaign to expand its workforce in the fight against coronavirus. Doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, allied health and other professionals are being sought out.

The Queensland Ambulance Service is also calling for applicants to fill Emergency Medical Dispatcher roles to assist in answering triple-0 calls and dispatching to prioritise and allocate QAS resources.

Supermarket giant Coles is also recruiting more than 5000 new casual staff including 2000 in Queensland to help stock shelves and serve customers.