Article: Bus driving bucks the job loss trend

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Bus driving bucks the job loss trend

Bus driving bucks the job loss trend
17:27 AEST Tue Mar 3 2009

Bus driving could be the job for an economic crisis, with more than 10,000 new roles to become available in the next five years.

High demand for public transport coupled with an ageing population has prompted a nationwide recruitment drive to fill the surging number of vacancies in defiance of global economic trends in which jobs are being shed daily.

The campaign to attract new workers launched on Tuesday will be marketed in schools and the transport and logistics sectors across Australian capital cities and regional areas.

Bus Industry Confederation of Australia executive director Michael Apps says the sector needs new drivers as patronage increased by 50 per cent from 1997 to 2007.

"We've already been faced with employment challenges to find people to meet demand," Mr Apps told AAP.

"It's a growth industry."

But he said driving buses was not the only job available in the industry, with most buses on Australian school, tour and charter routes built locally.

Operations and customer service jobs are also on offer, he said.

"Like a lot of industries we're subject to skill shortages, whether that's for diesel mechanics to attracting drivers, who many people don't see as an attractive job for a variety of reasons.

"On the other hand, we're seeing a lot of women and semi-retirees or ex-professionals looking for a part-time casual job."

School and community bus driver Lisa Shergold says she received "plenty" of training and support when she joined the industry three years ago.

The 35-year-old said it was "people" that attracted her to the job.

"I love to work with people, and [it was] also the driving of the big machine," she said.

"A lot of the older people are on their own during the week and I could be the only person they speak to."

Federal Minister for Workplace Participation Brendan O'Connor said employment opportunities in the bus industry signalled the public transport sector was more immune to tough financial times.

"The global financial crisis is presenting unique challenges," Mr O'Connor said.

"There are some downturns at least temporarily in some sectors and therefore there'll be opportunities for Australian workers to find themselves in this sector."