Front desk vacancies a sign of confidence
ALICIA NALLY ing trades workers were also in demand, with 353 vacancies recorded, as were medical practitioners and nurses at 200 vacancies.
Carers and aides (189), engineers (148), sales assistants (161), finance and human resources professionals (113) and hospitality and retail workers (104) were also among the most in-demand roles in the region.
The regional Internet Vacancy Index records vacancies from the three major job boards, SEEK, CareerOne and Australian JobSearch.
The data does not reflect total jobs, however, because it does not include jobs advertised through other online job boards, employer websites, word of mouth, in newspapers, and shop windows.
But Elite Executive Recruitment and Search Consultants managing director Eva Grabner said the fact businesses were pursuing front-of-house staff was a great sign for the region.
“It has been a huge concern in Cairns that reception and administration staff were difficult to place because businesses had decided other staff could greet clients or customers at the front desk. I go to many offices now and you just ring a bell,” she said.
“That’s a cost that businesses were just cutting when things got tough. But these vacancies are a good indication Cairns is progressing well. It is really positive for the economy.”
Amanda Norris started her job as Advance Cairns’ receptionist in September last year after a career in aged care compliance and governance.
She said there was “generally a variety” of reception roles on offer in Cairns.
Ms Grabner said recruiting businesses had been “flat out” for a number of months now filling positions for engineers and other construction-based roles due to an uptake in the mining and construction industries.