The Australian horticulture industry is predicted to be 26,000 workers short over the next six months to pick and pack fruits and vegetables for consumers, with AUSVEG urging State and Federal Governments to act now to help growers get access to essential farm workers.

The Seasonal horticulture labour demand and workforce study, completed by EY and commissioned by Hort Innovation to assess the shortage of workers across the fruit and vegetable industries in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, predicts the casual labour gap in Australian horticulture will increase from November this year and will reach a peak in March 2021, with up to 26,000 workers required in different regions across Australia.

Labour continues to be central to AUSVEG’s advocacy activities as workforce shortages hit the sector throughout Australia.

AUSVEG has been highly active across the media on this issue, with news reports across most major news outlets in regional, rural and metropolitan media.

The issue has also been on the political agenda, with the Prime Minister, Agriculture Minister and other Ministers and politicians commenting on the issue.

Click here to read the AUSVEG media release.

Click here to read more in AUSVEG’s latest advocacy update.

To request a copy of the study, please contact Hort Innovation’s Anthony Kachenko on 02 8295 2343 or by email.