12
Jun
2014
0

Employment Grows –But Faster Growth in Drop Outs

HR Nicholls Society

Employment Grows –But Faster Growth in Drop Outs

MEDIA RELEASE – The HR Nicholls Society
12 June 2014

The May ABS Labour Force figures show growth in employment continuing but at a much slower rate than the growth in the working age population (WAP) – over the past 12 months employment rose by only 0.9% while the WAP increased at double that rate (1.8%).

This indicates further large increases in those who have given up actively looking for work.

Labour Force – Increases Since May 2013

000s Percent
Employment 994 0.9
Working Age Population 3398 1.8
Unemployed 43 6.4

Although the unemployment rate is unchanged at 5.8% (S Adj), this does not provide an accurate indication of the weakness of the labour market. A much more important test is whether the growth in employment is keeping up with the working age population increase. Before the Fair Work legislation employment was growing faster than the WAP.

Unless there is a major improvement in labour demand the Abbott Government will not achieve the budget forecast employment growth of 1.5% in 2014-15. And Abbott’s pre-election jobs target of a one million increase within five years will fall well short.

It is now abundantly clear that urgent changes must be made to the existing regulatory legislation, and the administration of it, just to reach the “sensible centre” and remove the bias evident in the existing arrangements. The proposals to reform the ABBC and other minor reforms are welcome but have yet to be implemented and will not themselves change the behavior of militant unions.

Publicity Officer: Des Moore (9867 1235)