Employment in Australia is picking up gradually after the massive losses triggered by COVID-19 lockdowns. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), between mid-May to mid-June, the total payroll jobs rose by 1.0%, although they were still 6.4% down by mid-March. The recovery in payroll jobs between mid-April to mid-June signifies about 30% of the employments primarily lost. Moreover, between mid-May to mid-June, the easing in lockdown restrictions witnessed payroll jobs rising rapidly for the under 20s, up by 4.1%.
Collins Foods shares have jumped more than 17 per cent after the company said its underlying full-year profit rose 5.1 per cent to $47.3 million. Revenue for the 53 weeks to May 3 climbed 8.9 per cent to $981.7 million, as Australians flocked to its trusted KFC brand during unsettled times. Its statutory profit was down 20.1 per cent to $31.3 million, mainly reflecting the impact of new accounting standards regarding leases. Chief executive Drew O'Malley said that KFC Australia has once again shown that it is a safe and trusted brand that customers can rely on during uncertain times. At 1136 AEST, Collins Foods shares were up 17.3 per cent to $9.81.
Online retail giant Amazon is building one of the largest warehouses in Australia in its latest efforts to expand its operations in the country. Construction on the 200,000 square metre robotics fulfilment centre has already begun at Kemps Creek in Sydney's west, close to the under-construction Western Sydney airport. The advanced storage and distribution facility is expected to create 1,500 warehouse jobs, in addition to 700 jobs during its construction. Amazon has opened more than 50 robotics fulfilment centres around the world but this will be the first in Australia.
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