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.

Image: Image: Pexels – Joice Rivas

Produced By: Jordan Zerella

Featured In Story: Dr. Kaya Barry – Lead author, research fellow and senior lecturer at Griffith University

First aired on The Wire, Thursday 16 January 2025