Economy

Workers neededPush for foreigners to fill these ‘severe’ skill gaps

About 40,000 are Australians stuck overseas. But workforce shortages are driving a push to get more foreigners into the country.

Jade Gailberger

COVID crunchFashion retailer Mosaic closes more stores

The fashion retailer behind Katies and other well-known brands has shut dozens more stores, surviving its toughest ever trading period with big help from JobKeeper.

Rebecca Le May

Currency jittersWhy the RBA fears Aussie’s creep towards US80¢

Trade statistics show that exporters with limited market dominance are already impacted by the eroding competitiveness.

Michael Heath

Spin offWoolies sets date for $10b hotels, drinks demerger

Woolworths has revived plans to spin off its Endeavour Group hotels and drinks business, which has been buoyed by soaring demand for beer, wine and spirits.

Daniel Newell

New directionWA students choose health, education over mining

West Australians are shunning potentially lucrative jobs in mining and resources in favour of education and health-related occupations, according to a new report

Meilin Chew

Competition issuesAviation and travel a focus for consumer watchdog

The head of Australia’s competition watchdog has outlined his priorities for 2021, which will include a strong focus on travel and the COVID-hit aviation industry.

Danielle Le Messurier

More supportCoalition set to lock in permanent dole rise

New move expected to lock in permanent rise in JobSeeker payments.

Jade Gailberger

opinion
opinion
Housing squeeze
opinion
Who are the first homebuyer grants really helping?

With rampant panic-buying, most land available to buy at least an hour from the city, and no help available to buy an established home, maybe it’s time to re-think how we help first homebuyers.

Rangi Hirini

Upside identifiedAussie finance bosses see better things ahead

A survey by Deloitte shows the nation’s chief financial officers are much more optimistic than they were six months ago.

Stuart McKinnon

analysis
analysis
State Election 2021
analysis
Labor making very safe bet on what WA wants

Mark McGowan and Labor know what the voters want — the familiar. At today’s launch, the Premier strode to the stage with AC/DC blaring, centring his pitch on the safe bet of job creation.

Josh Zimmerman

Future focusCOVID challenge for women in STEM

WA’s leading women in STEM have described the impact of the COVID pandemic as a “double-edged sword”, causing widespread disruption to the disciplines, while creating new challenges and opportunities.

Meilin Chew

exclusive
exclusive
Lights, camera, election
exclusive
$100 million plan for Freo’s own Hollywood studio

A world-class film studio will be built at Victoria Quay in Fremantle under a plan to attract blockbuster films and Netflix-style productions to WA, if Mark McGowan and Labor are re-elected in March.

Peter Law

Massive hikesPerth rental prices rocketing by $170 per week

Weekly rents in Perth are jumping up to $170 overnight, prompting fears for mass hikes next month when the moratorium lifts.

Kim Macdonald

Bouncing backBig Business is back after bumper reporting week

Almost every business sector hurt early in COVID-19 has bounced back strongly.

Sean Smith

On trendKings of the kicks bring street cred to luxury strip

A new tenant on Perth’s exclusive King Street is proving the shopping strip still wields plenty of retail pulling power — and confirms booming local demand for premium-brand sneakers.

Kate Purnell

Data support‘Remarkable recovery’: CBA spots signs of strength

Australia’s economic recovery will build in the coming months as the jobs market recovers and banks continue to wind back pandemic-era provisions, CEO Matt Comyn says.

Adam Haigh

Chronic shortagesWA’s big test is scarcity of skills

Skills shortages in WA are likely to remain the biggest challenge for the State’s labour market for some time, according to economists.

Meilin Chew

COVID recoveryWA jobs hold steady as national rate eases

The State’s unemployment rate remained steady in January at 6.2 per cent — still well below the national average.

Sarah Ison

Panic buyingQueues that prove Perth has hit property market madness

Perth’s property madness led a single home in Carine to recently attract 500 people to inspections as a panic-buying spree sets in across the State.

Kim Macdonald and Brianna Dugan

Helping handConsumers turn to community shopping

Consumers are increasingly embracing a buy local mentality to the benefit of WA operators, who say there has been a resurgence of people wanting to purchase in their own backyard.

Meilin Chew

Domestic tourismSRG reels in monster profit as WA hits the road

An “unprecedented” rush for leisure and camping equipment by staycations stuck at home for their holidays has fuelled a more than 200 per cent surge in profits for Super Retail Group.

Daniel Newell

Changes wishlistDark side of Perth’s property boom

The State may be in a building and infrastructure boom, but there are looming insolvency fears as labour shortages hit and the price of supplies rocket.

Kim Macdonald

COVID shotColes buoyed by stay-at-home Christmas sales

Investors will reap the rewards of a jump in supermarket sales, with the liquor and petrol divisions also enjoying a huge bump.

Rebecca Le May

Retail spendWA businesses bounce back from lockdown

Fresh analysis of business turnover in WA’s lockdown regions has revealed the resilience of traders, with those hardest hit bouncing back to close in on, or beat, usual trading levels.

Meilin Chew