Anglicare Australia releases annual Jobs Availability Snapshot

Anglicare Australia released its annual Jobs Availability Snapshot today. It shows that long-term unemployment has become a trap in this current cost of living crisis.

The Snapshot measures how many jobs are available for people who don’t have qualifications or work experience. It found that:

– For every entry-level job, there are 26 people out of work

– The situation is worst in the NT, where there are 66 people for every job, followed by Tasmania where there are 43. 

– Unemployment has gone down, but the number of people who are long-term unemployed has not budged

– These Australians spend almost four years looking for work.

“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 560,000 Australians in this situation are looking for work. They are long-term unemployed, and they 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. For each entry-level role, there are 26 people looking for work. 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,” she said.

We need to create entry-level opportunities for people in growing sectors – 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.

A key review has already called for an overhaul of the system. Our hope is that the Government makes the changes that people need, instead of leaving them behind.

Read this article in The Guardian, published on 7 December 2023.