Anglicare Australia is today releasing its Jobs Availability Snapshot, which shows that the job market has been locking the same people out of work in spite of historically high unemployment.
Released today, the Snapshot measures how many jobs are available for people who don’t have qualifications or work experience. It found that:
- 15 people across Australia are competing for each entry-level job
- One in ten don’t have recent experience or qualifications, or they have barriers to work
- Unemployment is going down, but the number of people with barriers to work has not budged
- These Australians spend an average of five years looking for work
- On top of that, 860,000 people are underemployed. They could also be competing for these jobs.
“Our system is failing those who need the most help to find work – people with disabilities, who didn’t finish year 12, or older workers who lost their jobs later in life,” said Executive Director Kasy Chambers.
“Our Snapshot shows that almost a hundred thousand Australians in this situation are looking for work. That number has barely budged in five years. The same people are being left behind each year.
“They need entry-level jobs to get their feet on the ladder, but there aren’t enough to meet demand in any part of the country. Across Australia, there are 15 jobseekers competing for each entry-level role. People with barriers to work barely stand a chance.
“Even in a surging market, the same people are missing out. The right jobs aren’t there for the people who need them.”
Ms Chambers said the employment services system needs to be overhauled to help people who have been out of work long-term.
“Our Snapshot shows that we need to overhaul Workforce Australia. This system props up private employment providers and costs taxpayers millions each year, but it is failing at getting people into work.
“We need to create entry-level opportunities for people in growing industries – like aged and disability care.
“And we need to lift jobseekers out of poverty. Nobody should be trapped in poverty while they look for work. “The new Government is already reviewing the system. That’s a good start. Our hope is that they will work with us to build a system that helps people, instead of leaving them behind,” Ms Chambers said.