ALMOST 2 MILLION AUSTRALIANS LOOKING FOR A JOB OR MORE WORK

January 23, 2020

Today’s labour force figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) are another reminder of structural issues in the labour market.  
 
Almost 2 million Australians are looking for work or for more work because the economy is floundering on the Liberals' watch.
 
Labor has been highlighting the issue of underemployment and calling on the government to take action for more than five years. The underemployment rate at 8.3 per cent and the underutilisation rate at 13.4 per cent for the month of December is far too high.
 
Labor remains concerned by another rise in the number of people looking for more work since Scott Morrison became Prime Minister – now at nearly 50,000 extra underemployed people.

Today’s data follows the December Vacancy Index data that showed advertised job vacancies fell 7.1 per cent for the year – indicating there are fewer jobs available due to the worsening economy.

Under the Morrison Liberal Government, serious structural issues in the labour market continue to generate insecure work and low wages growth.

With the economic effects of the national bushfire crisis yet to be reflected in economic data, Labor once again urges the Morrison Government to ensure individuals and small businesses can access grants and concessional loans to minimise further job insecurity.