News Updates

21 – Government support shifts

08 October 2020

 

Government support payments, such as JobKeeper and the Coronavirus supplement for job seekers, were always temporary mechanisms to create a safe harbour where we could weather the immediate COVID storm.

But they are not the solution to walking back from a recession. It is no longer a matter of just weathering a storm.

This week, we take a look at how government support and investment programs are shifting: challenging us to leave our safe harbour and start on the journey to recovery, choppy though the waves may be for a while.

It’s more important than ever to see what jobs are out there

If you’re an employer, taking a look at jobs in your industry can show you what you are competing with to attract talent.

For job seekers, you might be surprised what jobs are out there.

 Top Ten industries and sectors with jobs this week

 

Where the jobs are

Ballarat, VIC Orange
Bathurst Parkes
Byron Bay Parramatta
Coffs Harbour Shepparton, VIC
Dubbo Sydney
Goulburn Tamworth
Lismore Tweed Heads

 

Spotlight

We’ve recently listed a fantastic temporary assignment for a Geographic Information Systems Specialist in the Bathurst region. Find out more

For more information

 

It’s time to move forward

 

Thanks to COVID, our pathway into a recession has been hard and fast, and the pathway out will be long and slow … but there are lights at the end of the tunnel for employers and jobseekers

 

 

With all the media attention on recent reduction of JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments, you might be surprised to know that some are welcoming the changes.

In a quick poll we took, over 70% of employers found it hard to recruit staff in the COVID-environment during the first half of this year.

Despite unemployment numbers being at their highest, employers of all sizes told us they were experiencing a reduction in job applicants particularly for entry-level and casual jobs; and larger employers were struggling to attract senior-level staff. They believe it is because of people’s desire to stay safe and avoid risk.

Those employers are hoping the change will motivate people who can work, particularly university graduates, to start looking again; and those who are in jobs, to consider a career move to new workplaces and geographic locations.

And we need to do this. Because every time we start a new job, or change jobs, we are stimulating economic movement and output. In short, we have to work our way out of a recession.

 

What does a recession mean?

 

Those of us working in the early 90s, remember the last recession in 1991-92 with unemployment at 11%, compared to the current 6.8% (7.1% in Victoria).

The Reserve Bank of Australia explains that there is no single definition of recession though it is broadly defined as a sustained period of weak or negative growth in real GDP (output) that is accompanied by a significant rise in the unemployment rate (labour market) and weakness in other economic indicators such as:

 

  • Household spending
  • Investment by business
  • Ability of households and businesses to pay back loans
  • Business closures

 

The conventional school of thought is that when we have had two consecutive quarters of negative growth in real GDP and accompanying weakness in the other indicators, we are in a recession.

But here’s one thing to keep in mind. The recent advice that we are in a recession is based on government reporting which is retrospective, i.e.. the first two quarters of 2020. In other words, we’re not just entering a recession now we have already been living and working in one since COVID hit.

 

It is no longer a matter of weathering a storm

 

Until a vaccine is rolled out, we must learn to live and work with COVID; to adapt to a volatile environment of closures and re-openings (of states, communities and businesses), social distancing and quarantines.

In addition, the impact of COVID will be felt in the economy for years to come.

Have we accepted this as the new normal? Are we ready to change how we have always done things? Are we prepared to make some hard decisions … go in a new direction … take some risks … be bold?

These are some of the questions employers and job seekers must ask themselves to move forward.

 

The lights on the horizon

 

Our economy has not been hit as hard as many other countries. This creates a solid foundation for recovery.

The 2020-21 Budget announced this week, shows us how the government is transitioning from ‘safe harbour’ measures to more targeted programs to stimulate business activity, create jobs and bring the unemployment rate down.

The budget allocations the government is making show employers and job seekers where new opportunities may be found. These include investments in:

 

  • infrastructure
  • tax incentives to encourage businesses to invest in assets and asset improvements
  • the NBN to help businesses leverage digital technology
  • education, skills and apprenticeships
  • manufacturing and research & development to strengthen national supply chains and capabilities
  • electricity, gas and fuel supplies
  • regional Australia
  • recycling infrastructure and waste management

 

Opportunities can also be found in other initiatives recently announced, including investments in:

 

 

These investments are supported by extensions of:

 

 

Find out more about topics covered in this update

 

 

Until next week, stay safe.

Scott C Small Victoria Bila
Managing Director Group Manager – Operations
Andrew Egan Damien O’Donnell
Group Manager – Regional Operations Group Manager – Regional & Executive

 

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