SaCSA research highlights attraction and retention challenges affecting the industry’s future workforce

Service and Creative Skills Australia (SaCSA) has released a new report identifying the interconnected factors in persistent workforce shortages in Australia’s hairdressing industry, providing an evidence base to support future workforce and training responses.

The Drivers of Hairdressing Workforce Shortages Report draws together national labour market data, stakeholder consultation and industry survey findings to better understand the pressures affecting workforce supply.

SaCSA CEO Natalie Turmine said the report confirmed there was no single cause behind the shortage.

“Hairdressing has been in national shortage since 2021, but the evidence shows the challenges affecting workforce supply are interconnected and have persisted for much longer,” Natalie said.

“The purpose of this work was to better understand what is driving those shortages and provide a clear evidence base for industry, training providers, unions and governments to consider where action may have the greatest impact.”

The report identified five key drivers underpinning workforce shortages:

• training duration, cost and mismatch with workforce needs;
• limited accessibility to training in regional and remote areas;
• salon capacity constraints and rising self-employment;
• low wages, conditions and limited career pathways; and
• public perceptions, gender norms and industry status.

The findings point to challenges affecting both attraction into the industry and retention of skilled workers.

Fewer than half of advertised hairdressing vacancies were filled in 2022-23, while the report also found many qualified hairdressers are not remaining in the profession long term.

The accompanying industry survey highlighted widespread concerns across the sector:

• 94 per cent of respondents agreed hairdressing is undervalued as a skilled trade;
• Training is a clear pressure point, with around 70 per cent identifying gaps in workforce readiness and nearly two-thirds pointing to gaps in leadership and mentoring (65 per cent);
• 70 per cent said training access in regional and remote areas is limited and inconsistent;
• more than 90 per cent said tight business margins restrict investment in workforce development;
• more than 80 per cent said increasing self-employment and freelance work are reducing apprenticeship opportunities and formal upskilling pathways; and
• nearly 80 per cent said low pay discourages people from entering and remaining in the profession.

Natalie said the findings demonstrated that workforce shortages cannot be addressed through recruitment alone.

“This is both an attraction challenge and a retention challenge.

“Our findings highlight pressures across training, business capacity, employment conditions and public perceptions. Many of these factors influence not only whether people enter the profession, but whether they stay and build long-term careers.”

The report also recognised examples of good practice already occurring across the industry, with many salons investing in apprentices, mentoring staff and strengthening workplace culture.

Natalie said SaCSA’s next step was to use the findings to support discussions about practical responses.

“There is no single solution, but there is an opportunity to better understand what is working across the industry and where collaboration can strengthen the workforce for the future.

“This report provides a foundation for those conversations and reflects the valuable input and insights shared by industry throughout the process.”

As the Jobs and Skills Council responsible for the nation’s hairdressing and beauty services training package, SaCSA is also reviewing and updating four key hairdressing and barbering qualifications to ensure they meet the evolving needs of industry.

SaCSA has consulted with industry, training providers, unions and other stakeholders to ensure training products remain relevant, practical, and beneficial for learners, employers and the VET sector.

“By streamlining and modernising these qualifications, SaCSA aims to better equip future hairdressing and barbering professionals with the skills they need for the industry to succeed long term,” Natalie said. 

Download Report