This report examines workforce pressures facing Australia’s food and grocery manufacturing sector, setting a focus for long-term solutions. The report provides a macro assessment of workforce challenges affecting the sector. It identifies that addressing workforce pressures will require multiple responses.

Key occupations in focus for the report include food and drink factory workers; packers; forklift drivers; purchasing and supply logistics clerks; and manufacturing production managers. The work focuses on three areas of analysis:

1. assessment of workforce demand and supply across five key occupations that are critical to sector operations
2. analysis of labour supply drivers including education pathways, migration, workforce mobility and ageing
3. modelling of future workforce gaps over the next decade based on projected demand and supply dynamics.

Key findings

• Structural labour market tightness is increasing workforce pressures.
• The sector faces growing workforce risks with demand projected to exceed workforce supply in key occupations.
• Ageing and retention challenges are key drivers of workforce shortages in key occupations.