Australia’s hospitality workforce may be steadier than it was during the pandemic, but that is no reason to become comfortable. Industry leaders have warned that sharp changes to migration settings could reopen the staffing gaps that previously forced hotels and venues to reduce services. The concern comes as the Department of Home Affairs has paused applications from many countries covered by annual caps under the Work and Holiday visa program. While applications may open at a later date, this situation highlights how sensitive hospitality’s labour supply remains to policy decisions. Working holidaymakers and international workers have long helped Australian venues meet seasonal demand, operated in regional locations and filled roles that cannot always be recruited locally. They also bring languages, cultural knowledge and international experience to an industry built around welcoming people. Accommodation Australia CEO James Goodwin put the challenge plainly: “We need more funding to skill and train locals in tourism and hospitality courses.” He also pointed to years of underinvestment in training and the promotion of hospitality careers. That second issue deserves just as much attention as visa numbers. Australia needs more young people to see hospitality as a genuine career, more employers willing to develop apprentices and trainees, and clearer pathways from entry-level service into supervision and management. Retaining experienced workers also matters. Recruitment achieves little if capable people leave because they cannot see a future in the industry. With visitor demand growing and Brisbane 2032 on the horizon, waiting for vacancies to become a crisis would be remarkably short-sighted. The strongest workforce will combine locally trained employees with the international workers who help the industry respond to demand and connect with the world. Hospitality does not need to choose between migration and local skills. It needs both, and it needs to start building that balance before the “staff wanted” signs return.
