Online search tool Job Connect+ has been designed as a year-round solution to staffing challenges in retail and hospitality, launching across 17 shopping centre websites this week in time for the pre-Christmas recruitment drive. Among these is Canberra Centre, Eastland in outer Melbourne and Castle Towers in north-west Sydney.

A first in the Australian shopping centre industry, Job Connect+ serves as a central source of information for local residents curious about the full-time, part-time and casual roles available at their nearest QIC shopping centre. More than 270 roles are being advertised at launch, with listings due to expand exponentially across a range of brands from supermarket giants and major apparel chains to independent cafes and fitness studios.

The initiative has its roots in QIC’s in-centre job fairs of recent years, which connected around 50,000 jobseekers with 100-plus retail and hospitality partners. A significant increase in online engagement saw 97% of candidates visiting centre websites during last year’s fairs and employers expressing keen interest in continuous access to candidates beyond the seasonal hiring period.

Stephen Dewaele, QIC General Manager – Shopping Centre Management, says: “With over 1.3 million* Australians finding their livelihood in the retail sector, QIC centres have a unique capacity to nurture the economic heartbeat of our communities. By transforming our annual jobs fair events into an always-on digital marketplace for opportunities, we can give community members a constant bridge to potential employers and do our part to ensure the retail workforce remains strong, adaptable and connected.”

He emphasises the platform's dual benefit: "By empowering our retail partners to cultivate a robust talent pipeline, we're offering residents exciting career prospects close to home. Well-staffed stores and cafes create a vibrant atmosphere in our centres, fostering community connectedness as locals serve their neighbours.”

This approach is particularly crucial for those entering the workforce for the first time. Having removed the historic hurdle of shopping centre job opportunities being scattered across different platforms, Job Connect+ goes beyond listing vacancies to serve as a comprehensive career resource. The platform hosts articles on interview skills and CV writing to boost employability, for example, as well as a dedicated section for expressions of interest and space for local charity groups to promote volunteering opportunities.

"By consolidating these features, we're not just filling positions," Dewaele explains. "We're building an ecosystem where local talent can thrive, whether someone is looking for their first job, a career change or ways to give back through volunteering. It's about improving visibility, accessibility and opportunity."