4 years ago
UNDEREMPLOYMENT TOO HIGH, WAGES TOO LOW
BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP
Today’s labour force figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that underemployment is far too high, and too many Australians are in insecure work, hamstrung by stagnant wages.
Under the Morrison Liberal Government, underemployment is too high and wages growth is too low.
Serious structural issues in the labour market continue under this Liberal Government with increasing insecure work, soaring underemployment, and stagnant wages growth, yet this government is pretending there is no problem.
The latest ABS statistics show 712,900 Australians are unemployed, and more than 1 million are underemployed. The underemployment rate increased from 8.2 per cent to 8.4 per cent in July 2019.
There are more than 1.8 million Australians looking for work, or more work, but unable to find it. The underemployment rate, when coupled with increasing insecure work, is leaving too many Australians struggling to keep up with the cost of living.
Under the Liberals, youth unemployment remains more than double the national average, at 11.9 per cent. More than 265,000 young Australians are unemployed.
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.
Under the Morrison Liberal Government, underemployment is too high and wages growth is too low.
Serious structural issues in the labour market continue under this Liberal Government with increasing insecure work, soaring underemployment, and stagnant wages growth, yet this government is pretending there is no problem.
The latest ABS statistics show 712,900 Australians are unemployed, and more than 1 million are underemployed. The underemployment rate increased from 8.2 per cent to 8.4 per cent in July 2019.
There are more than 1.8 million Australians looking for work, or more work, but unable to find it. The underemployment rate, when coupled with increasing insecure work, is leaving too many Australians struggling to keep up with the cost of living.
Under the Liberals, youth unemployment remains more than double the national average, at 11.9 per cent. More than 265,000 young Australians are unemployed.
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.