The Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census of Population and Housing (Census) indicates that improved seasonal conditions and higher production were key drivers of Australian broadacre farms using more workers in 2020–21 compared to 2018–19. Over this period, the average number of workers per farm (at peak labour use) increased or remained the same for all broadacre industries.
The impacts of COVID-19 on labour markets were less visible in the broadacre and dairy sectors (compared to the horticulture sector) because these farms typically use far fewer overseas workers. However, all farming industries have been affected by a general tightening of labour markets in Australia, with strong competition across the economy for Australian resident workers. ABARES survey data indicates that the percentage of overseas workers (excluding New Zealand residents) used on Australian broadacre and dairy farms at peak labour use in 2020–21 was minimal, decreasing from 3% in 2018–19. This remains well below the estimate for horticulture farms (around 28% or 40,300 overseas workers at peak in December 2020).