Airports and other travel facilitators within Australia and beyond are holding job fairs as they try to recruit new staff and lure back workers laid off by the pandemic.
Airlines are desperate for new staff as well. How will workers respond? Australia has very low unemployment currently, and many travel workers have found alternative employment since being laid off.
Some are cautious about returning to an industry that lays off workers as soon as an economic downturn – let alone a pandemic – appears. Others are keen to return or to start new travel industry careers.
Sydney Airport has posted signs informing travellers that Customs is hiring and airport security is hiring.
Perth Airport will hold a jobs fair – a major online recruiting event – over three days, promoting 25 different employers from across the airport who are actively recruiting for over 500 roles. Jobs range from ground handling, operational and security to retail and hospitality roles.
The live recruiting event will run in Perth from Thursday 8 September to Saturday 10 September (9 am – 5 pm AWST).
More information here, and you can register here.
Auckland Airport held a similar jobs fair on 30 July.
In the US, Amtrak’s national rail network seeks to fill over 4000 new roles.
Amtrak has more than 4000 positions, spanning various disciplines, including project management, finance, technology, onboard services, electrical, customer service and many more. To address this significant demand, Amtrak is hosting hiring events and career fairs to attract new talent, concentrating in Los Angeles, Seattle, New Orleans, New York, Washington, DC, Chicago, Oakland, Philadelphia, Miami and Wilmington, Delaware.
“As we connect communities, economies and families, Amtrak employees have a significant opportunity to engage in truly meaningful project work,” said Qiana Spain, executive vice president and chief human resource officer at Amtrak. “As our recruitment teams pave the way to secure top talent across Amtrak, I am proud to lead such remarkable hiring efforts.”
If you happen to be in the USA and able to work there, Amtrak is planning over 54 hiring events in FY23, including the following virtual events:
- Walk-In Wednesday Career Fair: Second Wednesday of every month, 1 to 3 p.m. ET
- Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) STEM Career Fair: August 24, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET
- Next stop Amtrak – Women in Tech: August 25, 1 to 3 p.m. ET
- Hiring our Heroes – Transportation, Supply Chain, & Logistics: September 22, 1 to 3 p.m. ET
- Next stop Amtrak – Latinx/Hispanic Individuals: September 29, 1 to 3 p.m. ET
Amtrak’s starting pay rate for all onboard service crafts is US$21.00 per hour. On the mechanical side, journeyman electricians start at US$34.07 per hour, and Amtrak offers hiring bonuses and relocation packages to fill critical positions.
In addition to actively seeking to fill 4000 regular, full-time positions, Amtrak advises it also runs programs for paid internships and co-ops for both undergrad and graduate students, as well as Apprenticeship Programs for those looking for entry-level, skilled labour learning opportunities. Offering competitive wages, Amtrak aims to convert 50% of all eligible interns to full-time roles. This includes early career rotational programs in finance, human resources, IT, marketing, safety and engineering.
Written by Peter Needham
