Jobless putting work on ice in favour of benefits Employer left baffled
WHERE are seeking work?
According to one recruitment professional, many are opting to collect Jobseeker and coronavirus payments rather than take low paid or casual roles.
Clayton Cook of TP Human Capital said employers were telling him they were having difficulty filling positions, particularly in hospitality.
“For low paid award positions and part-time positions the difference between receiving Jobseeker and working is not enough incentive for a lot of people. This is what we are hearing,” Mr Cook said.
Mr Cook was commenting on the difficulties of one business owner, Rob Vearing, who has been unable to fill a casual role for someone to deliver bags of packaged ice.
Mr Vearing said the ice market was ramping up with the season and he needed more staff.
He put a sign on Ingham Road near his premises this week wanting someone to work 20 hours a week. He is ofall the young people fering $26 an hour and penalty rates for any weekend work.
He received one unsuccessful telephone inquiry.
Mr Vearing said he couldn’t understand the lack of a greater response.
There had to be somebody who knew a school leaver, partner, friend, or neighbour who wanted a job, he said.
“I hear the media talk about Townsville’s unemployment rate being up to 20 per cent among youth, however, I can’t get one employee,” Mr Vearing said.
“Obviously, everyone in Townsville must be working or doing something. I can’t work it out.”
The Australian Bureau of Statistics shows Townsville’s youth unemployment rate, on a 12-month average to September, is 13.2 per cent. This is well down on the youth unemployment rate for the previous 12-month period of 17.3 per cent.
Mr Cook said the issue would be resolved when the coronavirus supplement was phased out but he warned youths to get work now rather than wait until it became competitive.