5 years ago
UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT TOO HIGH
BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP
Today’s labour force figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that both unemployment and underemployment remain too high.
Economic growth is slowing down, wages are stagnant and this government is pretending there is no problem.
Serious structural issues in the labour market continue under this Liberal Government with increasing insecure work, soaring underemployment and growing levels of youth unemployment along with stagnant wages growth.
The latest ABS statistics show 711,500 Australians are unemployed, and more than 1 million are underemployed.
There are more than 1.8 million Australians looking for work, or more work, but unable to find it.
Under the Liberals, youth unemployment remains more than double the national average, having increased to 12 per cent. More than 266,300 young Australians are unemployed.
Of particular concern to Labor is the underemployment rate under the Liberal Government, which is at 8.2 per cent. Coupled with increasing insecure work, this is leaving too many Australians struggling to keep up with the cost of living.
As Treasurer and now Prime Minister, Scott Morrison has presided over the lowest wages growth since records began.
The Reserve Bank, backed by economists and state governments, has implored the Government to lift investment in infrastructure to give the economy a shot in the arm, but the government has failed to act.
Australians know there is a problem. They are worried about their wages and their ability to pay their bills and make ends meet.
Economic growth is slowing down, wages are stagnant and this government is pretending there is no problem.
Serious structural issues in the labour market continue under this Liberal Government with increasing insecure work, soaring underemployment and growing levels of youth unemployment along with stagnant wages growth.
The latest ABS statistics show 711,500 Australians are unemployed, and more than 1 million are underemployed.
There are more than 1.8 million Australians looking for work, or more work, but unable to find it.
Under the Liberals, youth unemployment remains more than double the national average, having increased to 12 per cent. More than 266,300 young Australians are unemployed.
Of particular concern to Labor is the underemployment rate under the Liberal Government, which is at 8.2 per cent. Coupled with increasing insecure work, this is leaving too many Australians struggling to keep up with the cost of living.
As Treasurer and now Prime Minister, Scott Morrison has presided over the lowest wages growth since records began.
The Reserve Bank, backed by economists and state governments, has implored the Government to lift investment in infrastructure to give the economy a shot in the arm, but the government has failed to act.
Australians know there is a problem. They are worried about their wages and their ability to pay their bills and make ends meet.