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Spotlight articles highlight topical issues and are a more detailed analysis of recruitment using REOS data.
Employers’ experiences with retention issues
This updated spotlight builds on findings first published in March 2024, now incorporating additional data collected between February and May 2024. The results remain largely consistent with the original release but provide deeper insights across industries and occupation groups.
Key takeaways (data from August 2023 to May 2024)
Staff turnover is high
Nearly 1 in 4 employers who recently hired to replace staff said they’re replacing workers at least every 6 months. This was especially common in Accommodation and Food Services and for roles such as Labourers.
Top reasons staff are leaving
- Employees moving to other job opportunities and the nature of the work itself.
- In Health Care and Social Assistance and Retail Trade, dissatisfaction with job conditions or pay was also a key factor.
- For Labourers, the nature of the work was the most common reason employers gave.
Impact on businesses
- Recruitment costs and time spent on training are the biggest pain points for employers.
- Construction businesses and those replacing Technicians and Trades Workers were more likely to report hits to productivity and revenue.
Retention strategies
Many employers are responding with higher wages or incentives like free accommodation to keep staff on board.
Upcoming release:
REOS Spotlight – August 2025
Previous spotlights
REOS Spotlight - How recruitment challenges affect businesses
reos_spotlight_-_how_recruitment_challenges_affect_businesses.pdf260111
DownloadREOS Spotlight - March quarter 2025 results.pdf
reos_spotlight_-_march_quarter_2025_results.pdf741617
DownloadREOS Spotlight - December quarter 2024 results
reos_spotlight_-_december_quarter_2024_results.pdf294458
DownloadREOS Spotlight - Trends and Change in Recruitment Difficulty
REOS Spotlight - Trends and Change in Recruitment Difficulty-Dec 2024.pdf193069
DownloadREOS Spotlight - September Quarter 2024 Results
reos_spotlight_-_september_quarter_2024_results.pdf369492
DownloadREOS Spotlight - Recruitment experiences in the Construction industry
reos_spotlight_-_recruitment_experiences_in_the_construction_industry.pdf547794
DownloadREOS Spotlight - Recruitment experiences across Australia's regions
recruitment_experiences_across_australias_regions_-_october_2024.pdf501896
DownloadREOS Spotlight - Recruitment Difficulty Update to May 2024
reos_spotlight_-_recruitment_difficulty_update_to_may_2024.pdf239410
DownloadREOS Spotlight - June quarter 2024 results
REOS Spotlight - June quarter 2024 results.pdf367767
DownloadREOS Spotlight - March quarter 2024 results
reos_spotlight_-_march_quarter_2024_results.pdf368838
DownloadREOS Spotlight - Employers' experiences recruiting for apprentices
reos_spotlight_-_employers_experiences_recruiting_for_apprentices.pdf315142
DownloadREOS Spotlight - Employers' retention issues
reos_spotlight_-_employers_retention_issues.pdf315085
DownloadREOS Spotlight - December quarter 2023 results
reos_spotlight_-_december_quarter_2023_results.pdf397571
DownloadREOS Spotlight - September quarter 2023 results
spotlight_-_sept_qtr_2023_results_-_november_2023_.pdf354390
DownloadREOS Spotlight - Jobless applicants December 2023
REOS Spotlight - Jobless applicants December 2023 .pdf226661
DownloadREOS Spotlight - Employers unrealised vacancies
recruitment_spotlight_-_employers_unrealised_vacancies_-_september_2023.pdf283511
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