Jobs push for young
History tells us that smart investment in boom times can underpin future prosperity... Sadly, this Budget was more about scattering breadcrumbs to feed the pigeons before the election rather than genuinely trying to build industries in Tasmania Senior economist at The Australia Institute, MATT GRUDNOFF
THE State Government has sought to address the persistent problem of youth unemployment with a jobs package focusing on getting more young Tasmanians into the workforce.
Like many other aspects of this year’s Budget the jobs measures had been announced before yesterday.
Mr Gutwein has hailed the state’s unemployment rate of 5.8 per cent — the second lowest in the nation — as one of the key indicators of the state’s economic resurgence. But youth unemployment has remained high at about 16 per cent and more than 20 per cent in parts of the state.
Mr Gutwein said the focus of jobs spending this year was getting employers to hire more young people.
“If you are a young person there has never been a better time for an employer to hire you,” he said.
“For many businesses it is not always easy to take on staff who are new to the workforce.
“That is why in this Budget the Government is backing jobs for Tasmanians and especially young Tasmanians.”
The Government says the package will support 7600 jobs — a prediction rubbished by Labor given the 2015-16 budget was predicted to create 8000 jobs. The Youth Network of Tasmania chair Lisa Amerikanos said the organisation had been a long-time advocate for many of the initiatives in the Budget, including those on employment. She called for young Tasmanians to be consulted in the implementation of the employment package.
“What is needed to ensure the success of many of these initiatives is the continued input of Tasmanian young people,” she said.
Tasmanian Hospitality Association general manager Steve Old predicted the payroll tax relief would create jobs in the sector.
Tasmanian Small Business Council executive officer Robert Mallett said he hoped there would be a positive response from business to the incentives on offer to hire young trainees, particularly a program offering grants of up to $4000 to businesses hiring trainees or apprentices.
“Let’s just hope that the red tape involved in a business applying for the incentive is kept to an absolute minimum,” he said.
Unions Tasmania secretary Jessica Munday said the Budget lacked long-term vision on jobs.
“The Budget fails to address what the future of work looks like in Tasmania. We know the world of work is changing and there is nothing in there to plan for these changes. The Budget also does nothing to address the challenge of precarious and casual work that is preventing Tasmanians from getting ahead,” Ms Munday said.
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the youth jobs incentives in the Budget had largely failed across the globe.
“The claim that 7600 jobs will be created for young people sounds like an empty preelection promise to young Tasmanians struggling to find work,” she said.