Fewer jobs for seekers

Alarming job numbers underline pandemic pain

THERE are 20 job seekers for every one Tasmanian job vacancy, new data reveals.

The Government’s latest JobSeeker payment and Youth Allowance figures show there are over 39,000

Tasmanians on unemployment payments, but only 1900 job vacancies, as at May, as a plan to permanently boost the unemployment benefit is considered.

THE state’s pandemic pain has been highlighted by new data showing there are 20 jobseekers for every one Tasmanian job vacancy.

The government’s latest JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance figures show there were more than 39,000 Tasmanians on unemployment payments, but only 1900 job vacancies, as at May.

It comes as the federal government considers a plan to permanently boost the unemployment benefit by about $75 a week, putting an extra $2900 a year in the pockets of out-ofwork Australians.

Until the pandemic hit, the government had resisted calls to increase the $40-a-day dole payment.

But at the height of the crisis, the welfare payment was lifted from a base rate of $565.70 a fortnight to $1115.70 as part of a temporary measure that expires in September.

Federal Labor families and social services spokeswoman Linda Burney said a “snapback” of JobSeeker would rip $22m per fortnight from the state’s economy — the equivalent of 8700 jobs in Tasmania.

“With the JobSeeker payment scheduled to return to its old base rate — snapback — in a matter of months, millions of out-of-work Australians are anxious about what level of support will be available to them at the end of September,” she said.

“This will be compounded by the scheduled snapback of JobKeeper, which will see more Australians in need of JobSeeker.

“A snapback of JobSeeker is not a plan for jobs and would place our economic recovery at risk.”

Social Services Minister Anne Ruston has said the government had clearly stated the measures were “temporary, targeted and scalable”.

It comes as the Government today announced a second wave of coronavirus stimulus payments worth $750 each will begin flowing to five million Australians this week.

Pensioners, veterans and carers will be among low-income households to receive the support.

“The second $750 economic support payment will inject $3.8 billion into the economy and provide an economic lifeline to millions of Australians at a time when they need it most,” Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said.

The first round was made automatically in March and April to welfare recipients and eligible concession card holders who do not get the fortnightly coronavirus JobSeeker or JobKeeper payment as part of their current payment.

Government Services Minister Stuart Robert said if eligible, people would see the $750 payment arrive in their bank account from July 15 until the end of the month.