Never have so many Australians been working, yet never have so many struggled to find stable jobs. The link between employment and a meaningful life is becoming particularly difficult for marganilised people, as this significant report from the Australian Council of Social Service reveals.
Structural barriers are increasingly affecting vulnerable groups and becoming obstacles preventing many from ever finding successful work. Although the proportion of the labour force on unemployment payments hit a decade low (6%) in 2023, a worrying reversal has seen this rate rise above pre-pandemic levels. Of the 920,000 recipients, 60% have been on support for over a year—a figure that underscores systemic failures.
Successive policy shifts have tightened eligibility for the Disability Support Pension (DSP), relegating many with disabilities to less adequate unemployment payments. Almost half the recipients can't work because of health conditions. First Nations Australians and those over 45 are also overrepresented, reflecting entrenched barriers.
Growth in entry-level, full-time jobs has declined, and the rise in part-time, low-wage roles traps many in precarious employment. The ACOSS study says a more inclusive economic strategy is imperative to reverse these entrenched inequities.