Streamlining the onboarding process amidst high manufacturing turnover
Andy Nicholas, WorkJam The manufacturing industry continues to navigate a highly active and turbulent labour market. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, job vacancies across Australia have remained elevated in recent years, with hundreds of thousands of roles unfilled – including persistent shortages across manufacturing and logistics. However, keeping the […]
Australian Made Week puts manufacturing in economic spotlight
Australia needs to continue building domestic manufacturing capability says Earlypay CEO James Beeson. Australian Made Week which begins Monday (18th) puts Australia’s manufacturing sector firmly in the spotlight at a time when many business and government leaders believe the country needs to rebuild local capability, strengthen supply chains and invest […]
The hidden cost of absenteeism in manufacturing and why it is rising
By Damien Durston, head of people management solutions at OneAdvanced Australia’s manufacturing sector has always operated under pressure. Tight margins, complex supply chains and rising input costs are part of the landscape. But a quieter issue is now undermining productivity across the industry: absenteeism. Unplanned leave has traditionally been treated […]
Dr Gabrielle M Caswell of SpacePort Australia Pty Ltd, a finalist in seven out of 30 Australian Space Awards, 2026
Dr Gabrielle M Caswell of SpacePort Australia Pty Ltd, has been named a finalist in seven out of 30 Australian Space Awards, 2026. Dr Caswell has confirmed her acceptance of the award nominations, she was a finalist in the 2025 (5) and 2024 (3)awards. Dr Caswell says, “It’s an exciting […]
Battery-free sensors close to reality with breakthrough in solar manufacturing
Sensors underpin modern life, but many still rely on disposable batteries which are contributing to a growing waste problem. With lithium-ion battery waste in Australia projected to exceed 100,000 tonnes by 2036, and hundreds of millions of household batteries discarded each year – many used in low-power indoor sensors and […]
Leading agri-manufacturer deploys automated solution to build best practices
DLG confidently expects Fiix® CMMS technology to pay for itself within its first year by achieving a 10 per cent improvement in uptime and maintenance efficiency Australasian primary producers and processors with diverse and far-flung operations may take a leaf from the book of technology benefits earned by their counterpart […]
Existing tax system would deliver $80 billion more tax from higher oil price, report finds
Australia’s oil and gas industry would deliver almost $160 billion in taxes and royalties to governments over the next five years if high international prices persist under existing tax settings, new independent analysis by Wood Mackenzie shows. This represents around $80 billion more than under typical long-term price assumptions equating […]
AI-driven workflow targets next-generation semiconductor materials
Researchers at UNSW have developed an artificial intelligence–assisted workflow that replaces slow, iterative materials discovery with a targeted, data-driven approach. Designing advanced materials remains largely trial and error. Small molecular changes can radically alter performance, but with millions of possible combinations, identifying viable candidates is a major bottleneck. Hybrid perovskites are […]
Mapei invests $60 million on new Melbourne plant to support Australia’s growing construction industry
Mapei, a global leader in chemical solutions for the building industry, has officially commenced construction on its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Truganina, Melbourne. “Mapei has been actively present in the Australian construction industry for more than 30 years and expanding our footprint into Melbourne marks an important milestone for the business. […]
ROKLive 2026 returns to Adelaide to explore the future of industrial automation
The South Pacific’s largest event dedicated to industrial automation ROKLive 2026 will build on the success of ROKLive 2025 (pictured) on the Gold Coast, which saw more than 900 problem solvers come together for keynotes, training, networking and a showcase of the latest industrial automation technologies Rockwell Automation, a global […]
Ancient tectonic processes the key to locating rare minerals essential for modern technologies
New research from Adelaide University has revealed that geological processes dating back billions of years are critical to locating the rare earth elements needed for modern technologies and the global clean energy transition. Published today in Science Advances, the study shows a strong global link between ancient subduction zones – […]
Faster approvals critical to realising Queensland’s Taroom Trough opportunity
The Queensland Government’s welcome plan to unlock the Taroom Trough represents a significant opportunity to strengthen Australia’s fuel security and economic resilience. Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said the Taroom Trough has long been recognised by industry as a highly prospective basin with the potential to play a […]
Streamlining the onboarding process amidst high manufacturing turnover
Andy Nicholas, WorkJam The manufacturing industry continues to navigate a highly active and turbulent labour market. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, job vacancies across Australia have remained elevated in recent years, with hundreds of thousands of roles unfilled – including persistent shortages across manufacturing and logistics. However, keeping the factory floor fully staffed remains a constant challenge, as employers contend with ongoing labour mobility and competition for skilled workers. This reflects a broader national trend, with workforce churn remaining elevated across frontline and shift-based industries. While robust hiring is necessary to maintain output – with industry bodies such as the Australian Industry Group reporting that more than half of manufacturers are struggling to find suitably skilled workers – many employers are struggling to effectively onboard these new employees. At the same time, the National Skills Commission continues to highlight persistent shortages in key technical and operational roles critical to manufacturing. With vacancies remaining elevated and skills gaps ongoing, employers are feeling increasing pressure to make every hire count. Bringing on a new recruit typically involves dozens of training hours and takes months for the employee to reach full productivity. Furthermore, the average cost of adding a new employee is particularly high in manufacturing due to the extensive safety protocols and specialized training required. To attract and keep talent in this competitive environment, Australian employers are also navigating steady wage growth, with increases tracking at approximately 3.5 to 4 percent annually in recent periods. Today’s workers are highly mobile. While Australia does not track “quit rates” in the same way as the United States, labour mobility remains elevated, particularly across frontline and operational roles. Employees are increasingly willing to change roles for better pay, flexibility, or development opportunities. This makes it more critical than ever for employers to train new individuals quickly, engage them immediately, […]