Australia could “miss the boat” in the global race to recruit aged care workers unless the federal government adjusts migration rules, as research shows the labour shortage in the sector has doubled since the depths of the coronavirus pandemic.

Workers can pocket $400 a day for just six hours of work – but Aussies are still turning their backs on this crucial and lucrative job.

Shop windows across the country are plastered with "help wanted" signs, and most of those businesses are finding help pretty hard to find.

As minimum wage earners prepare for a 5.2 per cent lift to their pay packets, small businesses have warned "it's never been this difficult" to trade.

The business community is joining in on calls to release a backlog of more than 140,000 skilled workers waiting on their visa applications to be processed.

People welcome passengers from Singapore at Sydney Airport in Sydney, Australia, on Nov. 21, 2021. Australia's travel bubble with Singapore came into effect on Sunday.Photo: Xinhua

On Thursday, 23 June, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released labour force figures for the month of May confirming that Australia’s labour market remains strong. This is good news for jobseekers but remains challenging for employees still strug

Travel agents say COVID is making overseas travel more complicated than ever, but a severe workforce shortage means they cannot help everyone through the process.

State and territory leaders have expressed confidence the federal government will extend health funding boosted during the pandemicin the first meeting of national cabinet since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's election win.

As the grocery delivery business Send liquidated in early May, several migrant workers found themselves not entitled to the wages they were owed.