A Brisbane publican says they are still desperately looking for staff, without backpackers to help fill shifts and looking for jobs.

Despite international borders being open, the Queensland hospitality and tourism industry is still reeling from an 80 per cent drop in the backpacker workforce.

The Queensland hospitality and tourism industry is still down 80 percent of its backpacker workforce – and it’s expected to remain this way for months.

Publican at the Port Office Hotel, Nick Gregorski, says they have an ad out looking for staff permanently.

“There is a real skills shortages, and when I say skills I mean waiters, bartenders, chefs,” he said on 4BC Drive.

“I always call it the sand that sort of fills the cracks in.”

He says they have an ad out permanently looking for staff.

Before the pandemic, he estimated around 20 backpackers would come looking for a job each week, and they’d hire one or two.

Now, it’s a different story.

He says there’s a lag while they wait for backpackers, who might holiday in Australia for 6 months or a year or so before they look for a job.

Press PLAY below to hear more of his thoughts on the issue

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