The Wire

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows job vacancies have surged to over 340,000 in November last year, marking a 4.2% increase since August. Despite the federal government’s unprecedented migration intake, the labour shortfall continues to widen in several industries.

A collaborative study led by the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research shows backpackers on the Working Holiday Marker visa have become an essential group to Australia’s rural workforce, stepping in to fill critical roles in agriculture. According to the study their contributions have alleviated labour shortages in rural areas and shifted the economic and cultural fabric of farming communities.