THE SQUIZ
The 142 business, union and community representatives will reconvene in Canberra today as the Albanese Government’s Jobs and Skills Summit enters its 2nd and final day. It’s brought together the key stakeholders on some of the biggest issues dogging Australia’s economy – and from here, it’s up to those in power to turn the discussion into action. And geez they set a cracking pace on day 1… Coming out of yesterday’s sessions: a commitment to bring forward 180,000 free TAFE places to next year costing $1.1 billion, a push to speed up childcare reforms, and progress on reforms to the Fair Work Act, including multi-employer bargaining and the Better Off Overall Test.

THAT’S GREAT, BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
A lot – and look, it’s Friday, so let’s not go overboard… On TAFE places, PM Anthony Albanese says speeding things up will help more Aussies get into jobs more quickly. Tick. On childcare, there’s a recognised need to get more women into the workforce ASAP. It’s also going to be expensive, so it’s shaping up to be a ‘yeah nah’ response in the short term. As for the Fair Work Act stuff – knock yourself out on the details… But in short, it’s about protecting workers while freeing up employers to get on with business – and the Financial Review (paywall) points out that these were essentially Morrison Government proposals that Albanese rejected before the election. As for day 2, more big ticket items are on the agenda, like a proposal to lift the cap on skilled migration from 160,000 people a year to 200,000 – a move that both the unions and business support. Note: none of that will help ease labour shortages in the next few weeks/months…

AND WHY IS THAT A PROBLEM?
Because there’s the impending fight for Christmas casual workers. Retailers expect stiff competition for staff in the retail, hospitality, tourism and logistics sectors, and there’s a reduced pool of people to source them from. Australia Post is trying to beat the rush and has already started recruiting for the silly season. Department store David Jones and jeweller Michael Hill hope their brand/reputation will make them more attractive to those looking for a summer gig. But not all shops are scrambling for staff… Harvey Norman and Best & Less are focusing on shoring up existing employees to minimise their reliance on casuals. Our tip: you might want to start your Christmas shopping now… #SquizShortcut