UNEMPLOYMENT AT 5.5% AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT REMAINS PERSISTANT CONCERN

The latest labour force figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show no movement in the 5.5% unemployment rate, and highlight the persistent challenges of underemployment and low wages growth under Turnbull and his Liberals.

While there were 4,900 people who found employment last month, this increase was all in part-time employment. There was a decrease of 19,900 persons in full-time employment. Australia has a persistent underemployment problem, with more than 1.1 million underemployed Australians looking for more work, but unable to find it.

There are 730,200 unemployed Australians.  This means that there are 35,500 more people lining the unemployment queue than when the Abbott-Turnbull government was first elected.

While Turnbull may try to boast about jobs figures, the truth is the facts are more complicated.  The increase in employment over the last five years is comparable to that seen under the former Labor government between 2007 and 2013, notwithstanding that during that time Australia went through the worst global financial crisis this generation has seen. Labor achievements – such as the NDIS and significant infrastructure investments – continue to be key drivers of increased employment in the economy.

With insecure work, record low wages growth, and skyrocketing cost of living pressures, Australians are feeling the pinch. Turnbull and his Liberals have failed to acknowledge these challenges, let alone come up with any policy initiatives to deal with them.

Turnbull and his Liberals have no plan to help workers - instead Turnbull and every member of his government support reducing workers’ take home pay by cutting their penalty rates.

The Government should be getting on with the job of addressing the challenges and persistent problems in the labour market, rather than obsessing over how to give massive tax breaks to Turnbull’s friends at the top end of town.

If Malcolm Turnbull got his way, he would give a tax cut to millionaires, a tax cut to big business and a tax increase for workers – that’s not a plan to help working Australians, it’s a plan to hurt them.