Thousands of people who lost paid work during the pandemic are at risk of becoming unemployed long-term, a situation from which there is currently only a 25% chance of escaping due to under investment in employment assistance and wage subsidies training.
This means that people are forced to survive on the punitive JobSeeker income support rate of just $45 per day.
The recent “Faces of Unemployment 2021” report found that among people on income support for over two years, over half have a disability and almost half are over 55 years, underscoring widespread discimination in the labor market.
The report also found that a record high of 80% of people have had to rely on income support for more than a year, a number that is more than double its previous peak after the 1991 recession.
Australian Council of Social Service CEO, Cassandra Goldie, said the report findings stand in great contrast to the perceptions of Australia as a country that supports people who are doing it tough.
The Australian government currently invests far less than other comparable nations on assisting people to find suitable employment.