Tough at the bottom for jobs

MORE Tasmanians are competing for entry-level jobs than anywhere else in the country, a new report has found.

The Anglicare Australia’s Jobs Availability Snapshot published yesterday compares government data on the number of people with barriers to gaining work — such as older workers, people with disabilities and those who have not finished year 12 — with the number of online positions in their skill level.

It found just 10 per cent of vacancies advertised during the month of May were suitable for someone who did not have qualifications or work experience.

That was down from 22 per cent from when records began in 2006.

The study found this jobseeker cohort spent an average of five years looking for work and, nationally, at least five were competing for each job at their skill level.

But, in Tasmania the ratio was 14 jobseekers for each entry level job.

Examples of the types of entry-level jobs included cleaners and laundry workers, clerical and office support, farm, forestry and garden workers, food preparation, labourers and salespeople and sales support workers.

Tasmanian Council of Social Service chief executive officer Kym Goodes said investment in training and literacy was critical to turning the situation around.

“The Anglicare data demonstrates just how hard, unfair and unsupported people looking for work currently have it,” she said.

“Creating employment opportunities is critical and not just up to government, but also for successful industries to be willing to open up the opportunities for all.

“If we don’t increase investment in training — in literacy and digital literacy, in transport models that break down the barriers to accessing employment — we will continue to see high levels of unemployment, low participation rates and growing numbers of Tasmanians left behind.”

Off the back of the report findings, Anglicare Australia called for an immediate increase to Newstart and Youth Allowance, wider access to the Disability Support Pension and changes to the Federal Government’s job search website Jobactive Network.

“Over half of employers considered relevant experience to be essential for lower skilled vacancies, yet many people lack recent work experience,” the snapshot report said. “This highlights the catch-22 many jobseekers face getting a foothold in the workforce.”