Victorian high country businesses are gearing up for a major influx of visitors this summer, but crippling staff shortages could leave many unable to fill shifts.
The latest data from the Regional Australia Institute shows the number of job vacancies in Victoria's north east has surged an astonishing 46.8 per cent in the past year alone.
In October, vacancy numbers rose almost 6 per cent compared with the previous month.
There are now more than 3,300 job openings across the region.
Bilson's Brewery in Beechworth is just one local business desperately calling for workers.
Just a couple of years ago they employed five local staff — now, that number has surged to more than 80.
"We've had rapid expansion already between August and now, but we're still growing, we still need more people," team member Alison Lloyd said.
Jobs platform aims to fill vacancies
Tourism North East chief executive Bess Nolan Cook said a variety of factors had contributed to the region's "incredible" staff shortages this year.
"With so many variables, it's forced some people to reassess what they're doing and caused others to leave the region."
This year is predicted to be one of the busiest summers for the region.
With the season looming, Tourism North East has launched an online jobs platform, High Country Jobs, aimed at attracting tourism and hospitality workers from Melbourne.
The platform offers up-to-date lists of job vacancies in the tourism sector from right across the region.
This includes Beechworth, Bright, Mt Buller, Falls Creek, Marysville and Rutherglen.
There are currently more than 90 jobs listed on the site, ranging from hospitality and cellar door workers to chefs, cheesemakers, bike tour guides and housekeepers.
More housing needed for staff
As for where all these new workers will live, Ms Lloyd admitted that was a concern for many businesses as the region also grappled with a housing shortage.
"But it's requiring a bit of creativity and we work with applicants to overcome that problem."
In addition to bracing for a flood of customers, Ms Lloyd said Bilson's was planning to quadruple production in the coming months, and again next year.
"So it's all hands on deck," she said.
"Plus there's pent-up demand from visitors who've been trapped in Melbourne or wanted to come see family in our beautiful region.
"So there's that to cater for."
