Wimmera Development Association executive director Jo Bourke said filling vacancies was a common problem for businesses looking for specific skills.

She said vacancies harmed productivity because employers lacked staff to meet work demands. Murtoa’s Schier Cabinet Makers owner Mal Schier said he was inundated 10 to 20 years ago with people trying to work for him, but that had changed in recent years.

‘‘We are trying to get skilled, quality people employed but they are not knocking on the doors,’’ he said.

‘‘We used to have apprentices and people wanting jobs knocking on the doors daily, but it just doesn’t happen any more.’’

Mr Schier said he believed it was a widespread issue for the region’s employers.

‘‘I’m involved in an employer group and we meet once a month and the common theme is staff,’’ he said. ‘‘You can’t get decent people to work for you – people who really want to have a go.’’

Mr Schier said the output of his business would be boosted if he could find quality staff.

‘‘We have got so much work we can’t keep up with it,’’ he said. ‘‘We can’t get enough staff to actually be producing the work we could be producing – it’s scary.’’

Mr Schier said job seekers needed to show initiative.

‘‘They won’t fill job vacancies if they’re sitting on the couch, and that seems to be what’s happening,’’ he said.

‘‘They should be knocking on the door presenting themselves. A resume is one thing, but meeting in person, shaking hands and finding out what sort of character you are – which you can’t find out from a bit of paper – is another.’’

Mr Schier cited the case of his new employee Shane Whitehead, who applied in person on Tuesday and started work on Wednesday. 

READ SHANE'S STORY HERE

Mrs Bourke said the association was seeking vacancy information from businesses to take to the Regional Victoria Living Expo at Melbourne in May. ‘‘We will actively promote those jobs to people attending the expo who are looking to relocate,’’ she said.

‘‘Often businesses will advertise unsuccessfully and then stop advertising because of costs. They’re not advertising because they don’t think they can fill them, so the expo is a good opportunity to test the market at no cost.’’

Mrs Bourke said businesses that had filled vacancies through the skilled migration program had experienced proven benefits.

‘‘Businesses involved can directly map their productivity increase because they’ve been held back by not having the skills they need,’’ she said.

Mrs Bourke said more businesses should look at finding apprentices and trainees to fill skill shortages.

Mr Schier said he had vacancies for a first-year apprentice cabinet maker and stone mason.

WorkCo general manager Robin Khune said his company accessed a database of registered job seekers to fill vacancies. 

‘‘I have a high level of confidence that WorkCo can provide a range of options in terms of finding appropriate skilled people to meet the needs of most local vacancies,’’ he said.