A Townsville solar panel company is offering up to $5,000 a week in a bid to find staff for a sales consultant role as skills shortages grip the nation, but many have been quick to point out the job comes with a catch.
The job ad, posted on Seek earlier this week, says sales consultants can earn between $3,500 and $5,000 per week selling solar panels.
However, after the ad went viral, many pointed out that the role is commission only, even though all training was provided.
'This role is commission only, you must be able to back yourself and your sales ability,' the ad says.
Commission-only jobs are those that pay employees based on individual performance, rather than paying a set hourly rate or annual salary.
They are usually high pressure as there is no guarantee of a weekly income, so anyone who applies will need to be a strong salesperson.
A job ad for a Townsville solar panel company has gone viral after many Australians noticed it was paying up to $5k a week, however it comes with a catch as the role is commission only
Some Australians pointed out that there's big money to be made in the solar panel industry
Despite the role being commission only, some Aussies said there's big money to be made in the solar panel industry.
'I’ve worked for their competitors and also know people who work for them now. $150k is not hard to earn in solar,' one Reddit user wrote.
'I used to live with a lady who did that for a job, and she was loaded! She made a killing on commission.'
Covid border closures have slashed the number of visa holders in Australia. The result is a huge shortage of workers suffered by businesses around nation.
Job vacancies are now are record highs with 396,100 positions available in November, the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed on Wednesday.
During the past year, advertised employment numbers have surged by 56.1 per cent or by 142,400, making it even harder for employers to recruit staff.
Intriguingly, the number of job ads in November 2021 was 74.2 per cent higher than in February 2020, just before the pandemic.
Some businesses are so desperate they are offering prizes and special bonuses to attract staff.
Hospitality group Solotel - which owns 24 venues including Sydney's Aria restaurant, run by celebrity chef Matt Moran, said about 20 per cent of trade had been lost due to staff shortages.
Many businesses are struggling to find workers after Covid border closures, resulting in higher wages for new staff
Mr Moran told Daily Mail Australia the issue was the lack of workers.
'It's not just a matter of finding staff... it's just that there aren't any people to find.
'We are at the point now where we are offering incentives to existing staff members who bring in other people willing to work.
'But it's so bad. It is the worst conditions I have ever seen in my whole career. And until we get the visa holders back in the country it won't improve.'
Sydney's exclusive Rockpool Bar & Grill offered dishwashing staff as much as $90 an hour for weekend nights, but still struggled to get workers in the door.
The owner of Bondi's Pompei pizza restaurant George Pompei said last month his $2,000 signing bonus was being turned down by applicants preferring to stay on JobSeeker.
The Apollo in Potts Point is seeking a floor
