Posted on March 5, 2010

Call for Migrant Skills List to Include Hospitality

Melissa Maddison, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, March 3, 2010

A hospitality training group says it is vital that Federal Government recognises the major skills shortage facing the industry.

Hostec International’s Raman Nabian says there is a shortage of about 1,000 chefs per month around Australia.

He says that figure could increase if hospitality is not included in a new list of preferred skills for migrant workers.

Mr Nambian says there are not enough Australians interested in hospitality to fill all the vacancies.

“There’s been several attempts at this over the last 20, 30 years and nothing seems to really hit home,” he said.

“Even with the recent interest in shows like Masterchef, it just hasn’t attracted Australians to that profession.

“The number of young school leavers that go into cookery as a profession is dropping.”