BRISBANE — JBS Australia announced on Sept. 27 that it would grow its Dinmore operation and add more than 500 new jobs. The company said the facility will employ more than 1,800 workers at full capacity.

A second shift will start during the first half of 2024, according to JBS, with morning and afternoon shifts.

The meat producer also said it recently invested $49.2 million (A$77 million) into the plant to support the increased capacity due to market demand for red meat and livestock and availability.

“We encourage anyone in the local Ipswich area and surrounding communities to apply for vacant roles and join the JBS family,” said Brent Eastwood, chief executive officer of JBS Australia. “A core pillar of our career opportunities is building pathways for our people to take on new responsibilities and progress within the company.”

JBS intends to expand its plant chiller capacity, install an automated marshaling rail system and improve configuration to handle higher processing volume. The company will also install a state-of-the-art trim facility.

Some available positions at the Dinmore facility include fitters, electricians, maintenance supervisors, laboratory technicians, boners, slicers, butchers and laborers.

JBS stated it will work on a recruitment drive to encourage local workers to apply for the new positions. The company said it would offer new flexible work initiatives and establish a new program working with Brisbane and Ipswich high schools to provide school-based trainees a pathway to employment.

JBS wants to employ locally from Ipswich and other surrounding regions. Still, with ongoing labor shortages in some roles, the company may need to draw from the international workforce by using the federal government’s Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme.

“Our JBS Dinmore plant is a celebration of diversity and culture, our workforce represents 47 nationalities,” Eastwood said. “Together, our Dinmore team works hard to contribute to Australia’s food security and deliver locally produced Aussie beef to dinner tables around the world.”

The Dinmore plant has been operational in Australia since 1986 and accounts for 10% of the country’s total beef processing capacity. It produces several grass and grain-fed beef brands that supply national Australian supermarkets and Asian, North American and Middle Eastern customers.