Australian liquor store Dan Murphy offers on-site job interviews in 10-minute slots to fill positions amid staffing shortages ahead of Christmas. The company intends to hire more than 2,200 casual workers during the hiring week, from Monday to Sunday.
The country is experiencing one of its tightest labour markets in almost 50 years, with the unemployment rate at a record low of 3.5%. Last week, Australia raised its permanent migration limit to help fill jobs.
“We wanted to make it as easy as possible for people interested in a career with Dan Murphy’s to get a foot in the door,” according to Dan Murphy’s incoming Managing Director Agi Pfeiffer-Smith.
“Hiring week is also a great way for applicants to engage directly with the store manager and to see for themselves if they think they would enjoy working in the store and with the team,” she added.
According to the store, many of the positions offer immediate starts, and many of the roles require a commitment of a minimum of 20 hours per week. The company said it would pay for training and the cost of obtaining the required certification that verifies workers are familiar with the country’s alcohol laws.
“We are encouraging people from all walks of life to consider spending a summer with Dan; from university students to retirees who are looking to fill in a few hours a day or a few days a week, and everyone in between!” said Ms Pfeiffer-Smith.
Australia’s acute worker shortage – the second-worst after Canada in the OECD group of advanced countries – was caused by the pandemic. Australia’s tough border policies have exacerbated staffing gaps across all sectors, including hospitality and retail.
The government announced last week it would take up to 195,000 people this financial year – an increase of 35,000 as it tries to fill almost half a million job vacancies. The government said that workers from China, India and the UK – Australia’s top sources of migration – are needed to fill them.