Many employers have been forced to lay off or stand down staff since the coronavirus pandemic turned the business world upside down, but one Mayfield West firm is crying out for workers.
Aramex, a courier company in the process of changing its name from Fastway, has vacancies it cannot fill for 10 full-time delivery contractors or 30 to 40 casuals.
Depot owner Craig Ryan said business was booming faster than ever since lockdowns converted consumers to online shopping.
"The online retail industry in Australia has gone absolutely crazy since the lockdown in April," he said.
"It took off, then we thought when the lockdown was over it would subside and go back to normal, but it hasn't. It stayed the same.
"People have realised that online shopping is relatively easy and safe, and they're doing it more than ever."
The National Australia Bank Online Retail Sales Index for July, issued on Thursday, showed a record 62.6 per cent jump compared with a year earlier. The previous record was set in April.
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NAB said the online growth was led by smaller items such as games, toys and fashion, which came as no surprise to Mr Ryan.
"It seems to be more and more smaller items that are coming through, so people are buying everything online now instead of going to the shops," he said.
He said the depot's revenue was up 35 to 40 per cent in the past six months, equating to a 45 per cent rise in the number of deliveries.
He had 38 vans on the road pre-coronavirus. Now he has 50 and needs 10 more.
"In some areas we're having delay issues because we can't physically get the people to get it out there.
"We've got enough for another 10 contracted full-time runs, which equates to 30 or 40 casual people."
He said drivers could operate as contractors or casuals "like Uber".
Mr Ryan has been on Facebook, employment website Seek and Gumtree looking for workers to no avail.
"It's been a bit of a struggle," he said.
"You've got little coffee shops that had a few casuals that are really struggling to make money.
"We've got enough money to give these guys jobs, but we can't find them."
He said JobKeeper subsidies might have contributed to making some workers, including students, less motivated to find second jobs.
"There's no incentive for them to come out looking for work until that dries up. They're the kind of people we're looking for.
"Maybe most of them are back employed.
"You could either make yourself $300 a week or $1000 a week, depending how much effort you're willing to put in."
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