Retaining and attracting staff are lingering issues of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Central Goldfields Shire Council wants to hear from local businesses, big and small, about their experience.
Following discussions with five of the shire's largest employers, staff retention and attraction was identified as a key issue arising from the COVID pandemic, particularly for the food, health, education and local government sectors.
It was established that existing workforce data was either too broad or too insufficient to aid in the understanding of the local situation in Central Goldfields Shire.
Central Goldfields Shire Mayor Cr Chris Meddows-Taylor said input from local businesses is vital.
"This survey is about helping Council better understand the barriers to attracting staff to the region, what barriers to retaining staff once they are here and whether different sectors experience different challenges.
"The survey is a way to understand the issue of staff retention and attraction in more depth and is an opportunity to tell the Council what helps and hinders in their efforts to employ staff."
The survey takes 10 minutes to complete and asks questions about workforce size, make-up, employment type, pay rates, occupational awards, and turnover.
"Retaining staff and attracting new employees is an issue a lot of businesses are facing as they emerge from the pandemic," Sonac Managing Director Simon Cox said.
"This survey is a way to let Council know the hurdles faced by businesses in the Central Goldfields Shire and a first step in helping to attract people to the region and solve staffing issues."
The survey has been distributed to approximately 250 businesses in the Shire who employ staff. Survey outcomes will help shape advocacy efforts, both within the region and nationally. It will also enable Council and other employers to think more strategically about how to solve staffing issues in the Shire and broader region.
This initiative supports the delivery of Council's Economic and Development Strategy 2020-2025.
Survey responses will be confidential. Businesses will be provided with the results.
Submissions are open until Thursday, May 5 2022
