10,000 YOUNG AUSTRALIANS OFF WELFARE AND INTO WORK UNDER PaTH PROGRAM

The Turnbull Government has assisted 10,000 long-term unemployed young Australians get off welfare and into work through the Youth Bonus Wage subsidy component of the Youth Jobs PaTH program.

 

Minister for Employment, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said the Youth Jobs PaTH program is delivering significant outcomes by getting young people off welfare, into work and ensuring they are positive contributors to the economy and their local community.

 

“The Turnbull Government believes that the best form of welfare is a job,” Minister Cash said.

 

“In just over nine months, 10,000 young people who were previously reliant on taxpayer-funded welfare are now in gainful employment thanks to the Youth Jobs PaTH program.”

 

Employers are eligible for a Youth Bonus Wage Subsidy, under the ‘Hire’ element of the Youth Jobs PaTH program, if they employ a young person who has been unemployed for six months or more. Reforms to the subsidy were part of the Youth Jobs PaTH program announced in last year’s Budget and commenced on 1 January 2017.

 

Minister Cash joined the Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry MP at National Joblink in Rockhampton, where they met local business owner Scott Lawton of Pest X Pest Control and Carpet Cleaning.

 

“Scott is a great example of a business that is utilising the PaTH program to benefit his business and young local Australians,” Ms Landry said.

 

“For local employers to hire young locals it is critical we have the right policy settings so that businesses have access to the appropriate assistance.”

 

“Here in Capricornia we have seen 116 young people move from welfare to employment as a direct result of the Youth Bonus Wage Subsidy – this is fantastic news for our young workers and for the community.”

 

Mr Lawton of Pest X Pest Control and Carpet Cleaning said he jumped at the opportunity to hire someone through the PaTH program.

 

“We were able to find a suitable young person looking for work through the program and they turned out to be the right fit for our business,” Mr Lawton said.

 

“It’s a great feeling to be able to give a young person previously out of work an opportunity and, at the same time, it has helped us grow our business through taking on new staff.”

 

In addition to the 10,000 young people hired through a Youth Bonus Wage Subsidy, the other elements of the PaTH program are also performing well. More than 9,000 young people have begun Employability Skills Training courses and more than 2,000 internships have commenced across Australia.

 

“The very positive results to date clearly show that young people are willing to put their hand up and have a go with the right support,” Minister Cash said.

 

“Every policy lever the government has at its disposal is being utilised to promote growth, encourage investment, stimulate job creation and support businesses.”

 

“This is in stark contrast to the Labor Party, who oppose every measure we have implemented to create jobs and get young Australians the skills and experience they need to get off welfare.”

 

“The Turnbull Government’s Youth Jobs PaTH program is giving long-term unemployed young people the skills and experience to increase their chances of being considered for a job, and is assisting employers to give young people a go.”

 

For further information about Youth Jobs PaTH visit www.employment.gov.au/youth-jobs-path.