Data shows severe farm workforce shortage in GV

This is in stark contrast to the Bendigo and Riverina regions, which gained 1100 and 100 agricultural workers respectively.

Across the entire state of Victoria, farm workers actually increased by 2900, proving the Shepparton region is an unusual case study.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics includes everywhere from Gunbower to Euroa as the ‘Shepparton region’.

In May 2019, agriculture was the Shepparton region’s largest workforce at 13,300 workers.

By May 2020, this number had fallen to 8800 and continued to dropped in the most recent ABS labour survey (August 2020) to 7500.

Backpackers are included in ABS labour surveys provided they intend to stay in Australia for 12 months or more.

An ABS officer said there was a significant margin of error in the data, which needed to be taken into account when surveying small sub-populations.

“For the 13,300 workers in May 2019, the margin of error around this estimate is between 10,500 and 16,000 workers. For the 7500 works in August 2020, the margin of error around this estimate is between 5400 and 9600 workers,” the officer said.

This means the fall in agriculture workers could be as little as 5400 or as large as 16,100.

Another variable is the fact the ABS was not able to door-knock during the pandemic, resulting in less people being randomly selected to participate in the survey.

However, due to Bendigo, Riverina and Victoria recording completely different results, it can be assumed the Shepparton region did experience a severe decline in agricultural workers, not just a decline in answering the survey.

The ABS labour force survey is one of the largest regular surveys in Australia.

Shepparton region employees by sector

Nov 2018May 2019May 2020Aug 2020COVID changeHealth890010,100990010,300Increase of 200Retail7300820081007800Decrease of 400Ag, forestry and fishing14,60013,30088007500Decrease of 5800Overall employment65,60069,00065,70063,200Decrease of 5800