Reports shows Pilbara businesses savaged by rising costs, worker shortages and supply chain disruptions

Rising costs, worker shortages and disrupted supply chains are savaging Pilbara businesses, according to a survey conducted by WA’s peak business body. The latest Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA Regional Pulse Report shows the region’s businesses are feeling confident over the short-term economic conditions, but still constrained by skilled worker shortages and high costs. It comes after April’s first CCIWA Regional Pulse report for 2022, found 43 per cent of regional businesses expected stronger economic conditions in the next three months, down from 69 per cent in the previous quarter. According to the report’s August edition, constraints on the global supply of wheat caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the persistent strength of the resources sector, have kept short-term confidence firm, particularly in the Wheatbelt, the Pilbara and Goldfields-Esperance regions. For the Pilbara, 69 per cent of businesses had short term confidence compared to the Kimberley’s 29 per cent and the Mid West/Gascoyne’s 35 per cent. However businesses were more cautious about the longer term conditions, with Pilbara businesses showing just 38 per cent confidence in stronger conditions. The report stated the price of iron ore remained at high levels while battery metals such as lithium had also seen continued strong price levels. However it also highlighted the regions’ barriers to business with respondents raising a skilled labour shortage, supply chain disruptions and rising costs as the key barriers to growth. The report stated all respondents in the Pilbara indicated they were struggling to fill a skilled position. For the mining mecca, fitters, drillers and engineers were the top three occupations in the most demand. Karratha and Districts Chamber of Commerce chief executive Tanya Dodd did not respond to a request for comment.