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New research released today by Anglicare Australia revealed it is getting harder for Western Australians seeking entry-level employment to enter the workforce.

The Jobs Availability Snapshot 2019, which is collated annually in May and released during Anti-Poverty Week, measures the number of jobs available for people without formal qualifications.

Anglicare WA CEO Mark Glasson said the research found for every entry-level job advertised in WA, there were more than seven people competing. In other words, WA needs seven times the number of these positions to address the shortage.

“While new opportunities are again opening up for skilled workers in WA, entry-level jobs are quickly disappearing, such as cleaning and laundry services, labouring, clerical and office support and food preparation,” said Mr Glasson.

“In the last 12 months, WA has gone from fewer than six people competing for each job at their level to more than seven people vying for every entry-level vacancy. The only states worse off than WA are Tasmania and South Australia."  

Nationally, five job-seekers were competing for every entry-level job.

Mr Glasson said unless we create more of these positions, the future looks bleak for young Western Australians, especially if they don’t graduate high school.

“The Federal Government likes to say ‘The best form of welfare is a job’, but this Snapshot shows the jobs simply aren’t there for those who need them most.

“With a youth unemployment rate more than double the State’s jobless figure in WA, the reduction in TAFE fees for high priority qualifications announced this week by the State Government is a welcome step in the right direction.

“However, if we’re serious about helping young people, we must create jobs that match their skills. If we don’t fix this broken system, we will go on forcing people to compete for jobs that simply do not exist.

“The rate of Newstart and Youth Allowance must also be raised as a matter of urgency. Nobody should be trapped in poverty while they look for work.”

 [ENDS]