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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.

    REOS Spotlight - Employers' experiences with retention issues

    reos_spotlight_-_employers_experiences_with_retention_issues.pdf414447

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    REOS Spotlight - Employers' experiences with retention issues

    reos_spotlight_-_employers_experiences_with_retention_issues.docx313411

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    Upcoming release:

    REOS Spotlight – August 2025

    Previous spotlights

    REOS Spotlight - How recruitment challenges affect businesses

    reos_spotlight_-_how_recruitment_challenges_affect_businesses.pdf260111

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    REOS Spotlight - March quarter 2025 results.pdf

    reos_spotlight_-_march_quarter_2025_results.pdf741617

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    REOS Spotlight - December quarter 2024 results

    reos_spotlight_-_december_quarter_2024_results.pdf294458

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    REOS Spotlight - Trends and Change in Recruitment Difficulty

    REOS Spotlight - Trends and Change in Recruitment Difficulty-Dec 2024.pdf193069

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    REOS Spotlight - September Quarter 2024 Results

    reos_spotlight_-_september_quarter_2024_results.pdf369492

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    REOS Spotlight - Recruitment experiences in the Construction industry

    reos_spotlight_-_recruitment_experiences_in_the_construction_industry.pdf547794

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    REOS Spotlight - Recruitment experiences across Australia's regions

    recruitment_experiences_across_australias_regions_-_october_2024.pdf501896

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    REOS Spotlight - Recruitment Difficulty Update to May 2024

    reos_spotlight_-_recruitment_difficulty_update_to_may_2024.pdf239410

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    REOS Spotlight - June quarter 2024 results

    REOS Spotlight - June quarter 2024 results.pdf367767

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    REOS Spotlight - March quarter 2024 results

    reos_spotlight_-_march_quarter_2024_results.pdf368838

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    REOS Spotlight - Employers' experiences recruiting for apprentices

    reos_spotlight_-_employers_experiences_recruiting_for_apprentices.pdf315142

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    REOS Spotlight - Employers' retention issues

    reos_spotlight_-_employers_retention_issues.pdf315085

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    REOS Spotlight - December quarter 2023 results

    reos_spotlight_-_december_quarter_2023_results.pdf397571

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    REOS Spotlight - September quarter 2023 results

    spotlight_-_sept_qtr_2023_results_-_november_2023_.pdf354390

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    REOS Spotlight - Jobless applicants December 2023

    REOS Spotlight - Jobless applicants December 2023 .pdf226661

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    REOS Spotlight - Employers unrealised vacancies

    recruitment_spotlight_-_employers_unrealised_vacancies_-_september_2023.pdf283511

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