Walk into any café or restaurant on the Northern Beaches and you’ll likely see the same thing: “Help Wanted” signs that seem permanent fixtures. The region’s hospitality workforce has shrunk by more than 1,000 workers since 2018, with a sharp 6.2% drop in 2023 alone.
Of course, it’s not just hospitality: Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) lists approximately 340 occupations in shortage nationwide, from aged carers and bakers to chefs, childcare workers and electricians.
The data links the decline to the lasting effects of the pandemic coupled with more students choosing university over vocational study and workplace training.
The hospitality sector continues to struggle to attract and retain qualified staff, leading to reduced operating hours, heavier workloads, and constrained business growth.
So what’s been done about it? One approach is a NSW Department of Education’s move to bring high school students into major employer workplaces enmasse, to see if the industry piques anyone’s interest. We popped along to one such showcase at the local hospitality giant DYRSL recently to see how it’s playing out.
Responding to the shortfall
The NSW Department of Education’s response is the Regional Industry Education Partnership (RIEP) program, which connects employers directly with secondary schools.
When students step into a workplace, they see how the skills they learn at school come to life,” Steve Whan, NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and tertiary education said of the initiative.
“Hands-on activities spark curiosity and show students what it really feels like to work in an industry.”
The RIEP program uses a long-term approach to build these connections, with a focus on providing a series of opportunities along a student’s education.
“There is a skill shortage right across the Northern Beaches, especially in hospitality and the automotive industry”
“There is a skill shortage right across the Northern Beaches, especially in hospitality and the automotive industry,” said Stephen Ryan, Senior RIEP Project Officer.
“When they move into these roles post school, that is when we know that we have had a real impact.
“For a student who is unsure, I would say, go out and get some work experience in an area that you have even a slight interest in, and then go from there.
“Even if they go into a work experience activity and find that they don’t like that activity, that is a win.
“They can cross that off their list and focus on something else.”
Dee Why RSL recently partnered with the program to give local high school students a behind-the-scenes look at the range of careers that keep it running, from hospitality and events, to maintenance, administration, IT and customer service.
The day gave students a practical glimpse of how different roles and skills come together to deliver a high quality, in-demand service.
“I didn’t go to university, but I did study at TAFE, and a lot of my experience has been on the job,” said Natalie Forbes, Executive Manager People and Culture.
“People don’t see hospitality as a long-term career.
“So, giving them exposure to what we offer here will only be able to help bridge that skills gap.”
Phoebe Morris, People and Culture Coordinator said: “If you start out like me, as a food and beverage dependent, you can definitely expand your career into other venues.”
Data from the Department of Education shows that as of 2024, 48% of recent school leavers (year 12 students) will commence in an undergraduate course at a university within three years of completing school.
JSA Commissioner, Professor Barney Glover said: “A lot of people ask me about whether their kids should be looking at university or training for a trade, particularly at this time of year.
“And I’m a big fan of both, as an academic with my own children being tradies.
“A lot of people ask me about whether their kids should be looking at university or training for a trade, particularly at this time of year.”
“In fact, graduates of both university and VET (Vocational Education and Training) see great outcomes.
“We have had recent projects showing that about 92% of university graduates and 88% of VET graduates are employed following completion of their qualification.
“The sectors differ in structure, culture, and educational approaches. Yet both are equally important in delivering high-quality education and training that meets diverse student needs and the evolving requirements of industry.
“At Jobs and Skills Australia, we have been advocating for a shared approach between universities and the VET sector that enables learners to move easily between the two as demand shifts and new industries arise.
“A balanced system would value VET and university qualifications equally. This would better reflect the actual economic and societal contribution of different skills pathways.
“Our 2025 employment projections continue to show that more than 90% of employment growth over the next 10 years will be in roles that require tertiary education qualifications.
“At Jobs and Skills Australia, we have been advocating for a shared approach between universities and the VET sector that enables learners to move easily between the two as demand shifts and new industries arise.”
“That means it has never been more important to see the value of both university and VET and make it easier for people to move within a unified system so that they continue to have the skills they need to further their careers.”
Establishments, like Dee Why RSL, which partner with the REIP program are essential in helping students visualise their options.
Courtney Watson, Year 10 student said: “It is not every day you have had the opportunity to go behind the scenes of a giant establishment like this.
“It is a good inside view of how the workplace might be.”
Max Everton Woodward, Year 10 student said: “It lifts the weight off your shoulders knowing that you can and will have the opportunity, even if you don’t succeed in the HSCs.
“It is really reassuring, seeing people enjoying what they are doing.”
