Queensland horticultural industries are leading the way when it comes to job creation and growth according to recent Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures. Jobs associated with fruit and nut production were up 61 per cent statewide between February 2016 and February 2017. The same period saw a growth of 34pc in jobs associated with the production of vegetable commodities. Over 3000 new jobs were created in Queensland’s horticulture industries in this 12 month time period alone.
The growth in horticulture jobs can be attributed to a few regions in particular experiencing resurgent growth in the horticulture based industries. Mackay, Wide Bay and Greater Brisbane were the areas of major growth in overall employment and that growth can largely be attributed to horticulture.
The Queensland horticulture sector continues to be one of the major employers in agriculture making up over 18pc of all state agricultural jobs and contributing over $2 billion in value to the Queensland economy.
The federal and Queensland government have committed to a suite of initiatives aimed at driving increased employment of local jobseekers in regional areas and on farms. This includes the Queensland Government’s ‘Back to Work’ Regional Employment Package, funding of the Growcom managed Queensland Agriculture Workforce Network (QAWN), and Federal Government’s soon to be launched Seasonal Worker Incentive Program (SWIP).
The QAWN has six industry officers working across Queensland offering farm businesses practical help to address labour and skilling issues that could boost their capacity. The 2016 Sweetest Job Campaign saw QAWN partnering with Regional Development Australia – Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay Councils and Queensland Strawberries Association to launch a massive media campaign. This campaign attracted more than 2200 local jobseekers registering their interest in harvest work in the strawberry industry. Initiatives such as this across the state have been crucial for driving employment within the horticulture sector.
Growcom looks forward to continuing its role in promoting the horticulture sector and in turn driving job creation that benefits our regional communities and the state as a whole. – Pat Hannan, Growcom CEO
