DEMAND FOR WORKERS TO GROW IN 2018
NEXT year will herald new growth in jobs across Townsville, a local training company manager says.
State manager of Allara Learning Arthur Burchett said business was ramping up.
“Allara has been in Townsville 18 months and helped over 150 people gain jobs in the hospitality and retail industry,” he said.
“We started off just myself and have a team of nine and also will be growing in 2018.
“Next year is quite exciting as we have employers already asking us to help find and skill up their future workforce.”
He said a local fast food chain was asking for 10 staff across three different stores at Deeragun, Mount Louisa and The Lakes.
“I have employers approach- ing me for staff that have gone through programs and asking if we can do pre- employment courses to skill up potential staff, which discovers staff that genuinely want to work throughout the duration,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter if they don’t have experience – as long as they have the right attitude, flexible, good availability and presentation – employers are willing to give them a go.
“I’m seeing a lot more employers contact me to see if there are people out there that have gone through courses. They’re looking for people that genuinely want to work. There are jobs out there for people.”
The Bulletin revealed on Friday the number of people with jobs in Townsville had increased by 10,400, with 107,900 now employed. Youth unemployment is still an issue, with the official rate for Townsville at 23.4 per cent. Mr Burchett said many young people needed coaching on communication skills and appearance.
“Not all of us are good at doing interviews,” he said. “That’s what I do with training. We help these upcoming staff members get job outcomes, we work on their communications skills to get them out of their shell.
“A lot of youth have dropped out of school early and are suffering depression or anxiety. It’s about boosting their self- esteem.”
Mr Burchett said the company worked with the North Queensland Cowboys’ Dream, Believe, Achieve program and was the training company for The Ville.
To find out more. email Mr Burchett at a. burchett@ allara learning. com. au or visit allara learning. com. au.