Businesses in Tamworth are struggling to attract skilled workers to the city, with a number of advertised positions yet to receive a single resume.
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Plush Hair Designs owner Debby Woods has spent $8000 on advertising over four months, both locally and across the state, searching for a hairdresser, but she is yet to receive any bites.
“It’s a good job, with good pay and flexible hours, but I haven’t had one resume,” Mrs Woods told The Leader.
“As staff have left, I haven’t been able to replace them.”
She said part of the problem was the perception that Tamworth “doesn’t have anything to offer”.
Ms Woods moved to Tamworth from Dubbo in 2000 and found it was “a lot more cosmopolitan than I gave credit for”.
“Until you live in Tamworth, you don’t realise it’s a great place to raise children,” she said.
Tamworth Family Support Services (TFSS) has faced the same problem.
Two jobs as local coordinators received no applications in the first round of advertising.
TFSS general manager Belinda Kotris said while the level of skill required for the job was a factor, it was difficult to get new blood into Tamworth.
“Most of the people we get are from another service in town, which means there is just another position vacant somewhere else,” Ms Kotris said.
“For us, the focus is around finding people with the skills who want to be in Tamworth. It has so much to offer and we have to continue to push the positive message of living in the Tamworth region.”