Businesses from the Riverina are invited to participate in a new research project by Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Regional Development Australia (RDA) Riverina which will examine the skills shortage in the region.

Professor Kishor Sharma, Professor Edward Oczkowski and Professor John Hicks from CSU's Faculty of Business, together with Ms Lani Houston from RDA Riverina, are seeking businesses to participate in an online survey to provide insights into the cause and effects of a skills shortage in rural and regional Australia.

"Skill shortages are commonly reported in Australia and it is one of the biggest issues in the Australian labour market," Professor Sharma said.

"However studies examining the causes and effects of such shortages, particularly in rural and regional areas are very limited. This is not surprising given that the investigation of such a complex issue requires a wide range of data and information, which are both time and resource intensive."

Despite the unemployment rate in the Riverina region reducing from 6.9 per cent in March 2011 to 4.7 per cent in March 2015, a skills shortage in the agriculture, agricultural processing, hospitality, and health sectors remains.

"The examination of skill shortages in this region is particularly important given its dynamic nature and the impact it has on businesses capacity to operate efficiently or expand," said Professor Sharma.

"The challenge is the constantly changing labour market, skills shortages are not across all sectors in the region at the same time. Skill shortages in the region appears to have occurred due to structural changes in the economy, a long period of drought, aging population and outward movement of workers from the region and Australia."

The researchers are hoping the responses from Riverina businesses will help them to better understand the impact of skills shortages and apply these lessons to other rural and regional areas.

"The chronic shortage of skills has forced some businesses, particularly those in agriculture and food processing, to limit expansion plans, utilise technology and pay higher wages to avoid not meeting delivery deadlines," Professor Sharma said.

"We're hoping to gain a better understanding of the emerging trends in skills shortage in regional New South Wales and the effect on the sustainability of the business."

Businesses within the Riverina region are encouraged to complete the online survey before Saturday 15 August 2015.