The shearing sector is being encouraged to increase minimum pay rates in a bid to retain workers.

Shearing gangs around the country have been short staffed ever since the border closed - as workers normally travel between New Zealand and Australia for work.

But even now with the borders open the shortage hasn't eased.

The New Zealand Shearing Contractors Association is recommending companies raise the minimum rates shearers are paid.

Shed hands and pressers are in for the biggest increase - the recommended minimum pay rates for junior roles will increase by 20 percent and senior roles will increase by 22.81 percent.

The recommended minimum rates for workers who shear crossbred sheep and those who crutch and cook for shearing gangs will receive an increase just shy of 7 percent, while shearers of merino, half and quarter

sheep breeds will see an increase of 12.38 percent.

The association's executive officer, Phil Holden, said the industry needs to ensure it attracts and maintains quality staff.

"We're in a really, really tight labour market," he said.

"We want to retain the staff that we have and not lose them to other sectors and equally, we want to make sure that our people maintain their relevance with other sectors.

"It's less about the shearers and more about the wool handlers and pressers and those people. So, we're definitely hearing that the wages are too low there, and that's been the pain point for our members and our

contractors, getting people in into those roles, because they have other options."

Holden said many contractors were already paying above the new recommended rates, but that pay alone will not solve labour shortages.

He said the industry was looking at other ways it could appeal to job seekers.

"The biggest thing is that the association recognises that we can't keep chucking money at this issue," he said.

"We need to have a far more sustainable training platform, so that we're bringing new people into the sector and training them and supporting them appropriately, and that's where we've been putting a lot of energy.

"The working conditions and the working environment's always important. Our farmer clients are doing their bit, in terms of the woolshed presentation and environment.

"There are also a lot of benefits in working in our sector in terms of the lifestyle opportunities that it presents and being part of a team. So, I'd like to think some of those things present some opportunities for people to

consider."

Holden said New Zealand's wool harvesting industry and especially its merino products have made huge gains overseas and he doesn't want the labour shortages to jeopardise that.