‘Ridiculous’ reason cafe can’t fill $150,000 job

In the dusty Pilbara mining town of Port Hedland, business owners like Chris Bleach all face the same problem — there aren’t enough workers, and even fewer homes for them to live in.

Even on wages more a third higher than those 1600 kilometres south in Perth, “a normal person who works in a cafe or as a hairdresser can’t afford the rental”.

“And it’s pretty tough finding people that want to come up here anyway obviously, because of the weather,” the 68-year-old added.

Port Hedland, which has a population of around 15,000, is one of countless regional cities and towns that say they’re desperate for more migration to fill chronic worker shortages — from baristas, hair dressers and nail salon workers to tradies, office professionals and fruit pickers.

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Mayor Peter Carter said towns like his need to be “$100,000-plus”.

“In Broome they were advertising for a barista for $100,000 a year,” Mr Carter said. “That’s why your coffee costs you $8.”

But just like the major capitals, where record migration has put unprecedented strain on rental markets, towns like P...
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