An Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences report found working holiday makers and Seasonal Worker Programme employees offer different advantages to growers.
Bureau executive director Dr Steve Hatfield-Dodds, said the study focused on the productivity and contribution these two labour sources made to farm profitability.
“We found workers from the Seasonal Worker Programme delivered higher productivity and less staff turnover, while working holiday makers could be accessed at short notice to meet urgent demand in peak periods,” Dr Hatfield-Dodds said.
“Seasonal workers had 20 per cent higher productivity, and were seen by growers as reliable and motivated, with a predictable employment term.
Working holiday makers were “easier to access at short notice, although they tended to have shorter periods of employment and higher turnover”, he said.
The report found seasonal workers delivered an overall profitability gain, with higher average productivity covering their non-wage labour costs.
Visit agriculture.gov.au/seasonal-workers-report for more information.
Johanna Baker-Dowdell
Johanna has more than 22 years experience as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and online publications.
Johanna has more than 22 years experience as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and online publications.
