A Faces of Unemployment report was released this month revealing who is affected by unemployment and why it is hard for unemployed people to secure a job.
The report was published by the Australian Council of Social Services and Jobs Australia which found many groups of people faced significant barriers to employment.
They found a growing share of unemployed people were aged 45 and over (43 per cent) and a further 38 per cent were aged 25 to 44.
Since the global financial crisis, the report found most new jobs were part time and that 8.3 per cent of the workforce were underemployed and seeking more paid hours.
In May 2018, the report stated, there were eight unemployed or underemployed people for every job vacancy and that low-skilled jobs was gradually shrinking.
“These jobs are increasingly offered on a part-time or casual basis so that more people are cycling between unemployment payments and jobs,” it stated.
For South West mother Kelsie Smith, the reality of finding a job has been something she has struggled with for the past three years.
Ms Smith is a single parent, her daughter is about to turn eight years old and she has been studying library services and information technology full time.
She has been actively looking for work but has been unable to find employment because most jobs were either late nights, on weekends or were given to younger people.
Looking after her daughter full time has made it harder for her to find work during school hours.
“I need a job. I want to get a job. I do not want to sit on Centrelink forever it is not a comfortable lifestyle at all,” she said.
“But I am in a situation where I do not have family down here or anyone who could look after my daughter on weekends or nights.”
Ms Smith’s course finishes at the end of the year and she hopes to gain employment as a librarian using her qualification to put her ahead of other potential candidates.
To add to her concerns, Ms Smith will lose her parenting payment in November meaning she will need to rely on Newstart for herself and her daughter until she gains employment.
“Honestly I am terrified I do not know how I will do it I will lose around $220, which is a massive chunk when things are already very tight,” she said.
“How do I start skimping on things? I will need to start going to food banks and getting food vouchers.”
This month, a motion by Greens party to increase Newstart by $75 a week, was rejected by the senate, the allowance has not been increased since 1994.
