There is an industry perception that low staff retention is due to lack of clear career pathways and links to expected levels of remuneration.

The Equine, Greyhounds and Racing industry struggles with staff retention, which may be connected to minimal vocational education opportunities.  

In addition to challenges with staff retention, recruitment remains a struggle for the industry, especially in Thoroughbred and Harness racing. A survey commissioned by NZ Thoroughbred Racing highlighted one of the biggest issues that trainers are facing which is recruitment of qualified staff for Thoroughbred racing. This continued recruitment challenge is subsequently contributing to a decline in business performance. The survey also highlighted the fact that about 35% of the workforce employed by Thoroughbred trainers left their roles within a 12-month period. The nature of the work, which includes long and unsociable hours, and relatively low remuneration, are some of the factors contributing to staff exit. A change to immigration settings has also had an impact on the availability of a skilled workforce.