Tasmanian businesses searching to fill 143 chef vacancies statewide
THE burgeoning popularity of reality TV cooking shows is yet to translate to Tasmania’s work force, with almost 150 chef vacancies statewide.
Despite a glut of TV programs promoting amateur chefs — from MasterChef to My Kitchen Rules — local kitchens remain on the lookout for qualified staff.
Tasmanian Hospitality Association general manager Steve Old said there were 143 chef vacancies statewide.
“We are working to promote hospitality as a career — but there’s no quick fix,” Mr Old said.
However, work is being done to remedy the situation.
Mr Old said two workforce development officers had recently been employed and were in the process of setting up an ambassador program to carry out school visits and discuss their experience in hospitality.
Wrest Point executive chef Andre Kropp said they employed the most chefs of any kitchens in Tasmania — about 70 — so filling vacancies remained a constant problem.
At present, they have 12 positions to fill.
“People are seeing the glamour side of it through television but the reality is that it’s a very hard physical job and you’re working unsociable hours,” he said.
“Sometime youths are put off by the initial earnings of the industry.”
Mr Kropp said a qualified electrician could start earning $70,000 but for chefs that figure was closer to $40,000.
However, he said the career offered many opportunities, particularly given the reputation of the state’s world-class produce.
Many Tasmanian chefs moved interstate after finishing their apprenticeships but it also should be made attractive for interstate chefs to move here, he said.
“We should be looking to reciprocate, to bring people in,” he said
“We could go out to New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and let them know, they’ve probably all worked with Tasmanian produce, but we should bring them here.
“There’s always positions available so come on down.”
TasTAFE CEO Stephen Conway said they had a partnership with the THA to put in place a workforce strategy to connect the industry with prospective employees.
“In respect to chef shortages, TasTAFE provides additional support for apprentices who study with TasTAFE which provides them with life skills,” he said.
“These support mechanisms will often assist apprentices who are challenged by the pressures of work and would otherwise consider dropping out.”
The hospitality industry is Tasmania’s third largest employer with more than 20,000 Tasmanians working across 2000 businesses.
State Growth Minister Matthew Groom said the Government was working with the industry to “attract skilled people to come to Tasmania to take up positions where there are skills shortages, including restaurant managers, chefs and pastry cooks”.
Source: The Daily Telegraph / Mercury, Emma Hope, 26th August 2015
Originally published as: Tasmanian businesses searching to fill 143 chef vacancies statewide
