In the Northern Territory town of Katherine, many businesses have struggled with staff shortages over the past few years.
And with the NT government's COVID-19 vaccine mandate having begun this weekend, the Katherine Chamber of Commerce fears the problem will only get worse.
"I have grave concerns," co-chairwoman Linda Blackwood said.
"It will be increasingly difficult to attract staff to the NT given a percentage of the workforce across Australia has been rendered unemployable by the government mandates."
Many businesses in Katherine have already had difficulties with recruitment, with even businesses like McDonald's suffering such a lack of staff it now operates drive-through only.
Smaller businesses, like Anna Rose Berry's cafe, are also struggling.
Her cafe needs three chefs but only has one, and what little staff she has she shares with other local businesses.
"We have other premises that are calling out and sometimes we share our staff with them because they don't have any," Ms Rose Berry said.
"It is very bad."
Burden falling on business owners
Chrissy McKie says she is doing the job of three people at the cafe she owns, but it is coming at a cost.
"I can't go to the supermarket and I can't even go home and do any of my bookkeeping or anything," Ms McKie said.
"I am here full time, from opening to close."
Ms McKie said she had put up advertisements around the town and on several sites online, but no-one was coming forward.
"I just haven't had anybody apply for the job, which is the hardest thing," she said.
'Remote communities will suffer the most': Chamber
Ms Blackwood said Katherine's status as a hub for many remote communities meant that any reduction of services due to a lack of staff would also hit those communities hard.
It comes as remote community organisations in parts of the NT are bracing for the mandate to impact a range of essential services, including remote schools, outback stores and housing services, although Aboriginal health groups are in support of the policy.
"Remote communities will suffer the most," she said.
"With the increased effort required to visit remote communities, I know some tradies that have already commented they would simply prefer not to do remote work."
She said while there was plenty of opportunity in Katherine, she was concerned more people would be forced out to the city.
"Several small business closures are for specialised services that are not otherwise available in the region," she said.
Businesses have hope
Urmil Lamba and Prem Peyara wanted to open their Indian restaurant in Katherine in February last year, but it took them 12 months just to find a chef.
They have now been operating for about 10 months, but have so far only been able to offer takeaway.
"If there are not enough people to support the chef in the kitchen it is really hard to maintain the service and quality," Ms Lamba said.
"We don't really want to compromise on that."
The pair are now looking at recruiting staff from overseas, and say they will be ready for more business as soon as they get more employees.
Mr Peyara called Katherine a "beautiful town" and said once international borders opened, marketing the town should not be difficult.
"People are very nice and helpful and care for each other," he said.
"Always they are available for whatever we need."
